Houston smothers Tennessee in Elite Eight: Cougars ride into Final Four on nation's longest win streak

A dominant defensive showing helped the Cougars secure their second Final Four berth in five years

No. 1 seed Houston is headed to the Final Four for the second time in the past five seasons after imposing its will on No. 2 seed Tennessee for a 69-50 win in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Cougars used a masterful defensive effort to build a 22-point first half lead and then held on late for their 17th consecutive victory.

Tennessee missed its first 14 shots from 3-point range while digging a deep hole against the Cougars' long and athletic defensive attack. The Volunteers fought back to narrow their deficit to 10 points with under six minutes left, but Houston's veteran lineup weathered the storm, thanks largely to a late barrage of 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp. 

The outcome sets up a blockbuster Final Four showdown between Houston and fellow No. 1 seed Duke next Saturday at the Final Four in San Antonio. The Blue Devils and their freshman-oriented lineup haven't been tested by a team with Houston's physicality and grit.

At age 69, Houston's Kelvin Sampson is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the sport. The only blank spot left on his resume is a national title. Getting through a stacked Final Four will be a brutal challenge. But despite an underwhelming second-half performance from Houston, the Cougars offered a loud reminder of their championship potential.

After winning the outright Big 12 title by four games and cruising to the league's tournament championship, Houston will head to San Antonio with the nation's longest active winning streak and plenty of evidence to suggest it will play second-fiddle to no one at the Final Four.

Quick hitters

• Houston: 11th game this season allowing 50 points or fewer (second-most in Big 12 history behind 2023-24 Houston, 12)
• Houston: 23rd game allowing 50 points or fewer in past two seasons (more than any other two Division I teams combined)
• Houston: Most Final Four appearances without a national title (seven). 
• Tennessee: Fewest first-half points in Elite Eight history (15). Fewest first-half points by a top-two seed in NCAA tournament history. 

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

Emanuel Sharp delivers

Emanuel Sharp delivered a trio of clutch 3-pointers late in the second half to stifle Tennessee's rally. The redshirt junior's first run-stopping bomb came at the 5:29 mark to extend Houston's lead to 53-40. He hit the next one with 4:42 left to put the Cougars ahead 56-42. Then, for good measure, he hit a dagger with 3:13 remaining to give Houston a 62-44 advantage. It was an impressive display of confidence from the 6-foot-3 guard after he started 1 for 7 from deep. After a a 4 of 18 start from 3-point range as a team, Houston hit 5 of 7 to close the game. It was a demonstration of what makes this team different than its predecessors, which weren't so offensively gifted. Houston entered with the nation's best 3-point shooting percentage at 39.8% and showed that perimeter precision when it mattered most.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

Duke rematch is set

Houston's win sets up a rematch with Duke at the Final Four. The Blue Devils knocked the Cougars out in the Sweet 16 last season with a 54-51 victory. Much of this year's Houston team was part of that defeat, which could give it an extra edge in a battle between No. 1 seeds. The Blue Devils are a vastly different and better team now, but Houston will be motivated for revenge. The Cougars were without star point guard Jamal Shead in last year's loss due to injury but still pushed Duke to the brink. This time around, they are healthy and playing well entering what should be a memorable national semifinal.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

A half to forget

Tennessee played Houston to a 35-35 tie in the second half as the Volunteers upped the tempo with some full-court pressure and a bit of offensive aggression. Had they used that formula in the first half, perhaps this game would have transpired differently. But their 15 first-half points set a new record for fewest ever in the first half of an Elite Eight game. The previous holder of that futile mark was Saint Joseph's, which scored just 16 in the first half of an Elite Eight game in 1981. Had the Volunteers come back to win, it would have marked the largest halftime comeback in NCAA Tournament history. They made a run at it behind a combined 28 points from guards Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey in the second half, but the dismal first-half showing proved insurmountable.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:32 pm ET · David Cobb]

Houston is going to the Final Four

FINAL: (1) Houston 69, (2) Tennessee 50

No. 1 seed Houston is headed to the Final Four for the second time in the past five seasons after imposing its will on No. 2 seed Tennessee for a 69-50 win in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Cougars used a masterful defensive effort to build a 22-point first half lead and then held on late for their 17th consecutive victory.

Tennessee missed its first 14 shots from 3-point range while digging a deep hole against the Cougars' long and athletic defensive attack. The Volunteers fought back to narrow their deficit to 10 points with under six minutes left, but Houston's veteran lineup weathered the storm, thanks largely to a late barrage of 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp. 

The outcome sets up a blockbuster Final Four showdown between Houston and fellow No. 1 seed Duke next Saturday at the Final Four in San Antonio. The Blue Devils and their freshman-oriented lineup haven't been tested by a team with Houston's physicality and grit.

At age 69, Houston's Kelvin Sampson is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the sport. The only blank spot left on his resume is a national title. Getting through a stacked Final Four will be a brutal challenge. But despite an underwhelming second-half performance from Houston, the Cougars offered a loud reminder of their championship potential.

After winning the outright Big 12 title by four games and cruising to a the league's tournament championship, Houston will head to San Antonio with the nation's longest active winning streak and plenty of evidence to suggest it will play second-fiddle to no one at the Final Four.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:22 pm ET · David Cobb]

Houston weathers the storm

3:43 2H: Houston 59, Tennessee 42

Tennessee briefly cut the deficit to 10 points with a 5-0 run. But a pair of 3-pointers from Emmanuel Sharp and and one from Mylik Wilson have extended Houston's edge back to 17. The Cougars appear to have weathered the storm, courtesy of those clutch shots, after things briefly got tense. In total, that's three made 3-pointers in a row for Houston after a 1 for 11 stretch from a team that boasts the nation's best 3-point shooting percentage.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 4:07 pm ET · David Cobb]

Houston keeping it comfortable

7:17 2H: Houston 50, Tennessee 35

The second half has featured the sort of competitive, high-intensity action this matchup was expected to deliver. But it's looking like too little, too late as Houston continues keeping Tennessee at arm's length. The Cougars are just 1 of 7 from 3-point range in the second half but have committed only two turnovers all game against Tennessee's strong defense. Their veteran savvy is showing in a high-stakes environment, even as shots aren't falling.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 3:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Jordan Gainey gets going

11:41 2H: Houston 46, Tennessee 30

Tennessee sixth man Jordan Gainey is cooking to start the second half. He scored 10 straight for the Volunteers, who have brought the pro-Tennessee crowd to life. Had Tennessee played with this aggression and pace in the first half, perhaps the game would have a different complexion. As it stands, sustaining a rally against a Houston team that thrives defensively and on the glass may be impossible.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 3:40 pm ET · David Cobb]

J'Wan Roberts making an impact

15:51 1H: Houston 38, Tennessee 20

After playing just five minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, J'Wan Robert is back and making his presence felt for Houston. He's the heartbeat of this program, and he's got four points already in the second half, including an and-1 bucket just now that stopped a brief Tennessee run. Tennessee looks determined to turn this into an up-tempo game, but the Cougars will be fine if they pick their spots to attack and feed Roberts when he's able to establish early position on the block.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 3:22 pm ET · David Cobb]

Second half keys

The officials let both teams play in the first half, as neither team reached the bonus. Houston needs to continue to defend without fouling in the second half. About the only way Tennessee could get this back to single digits would be for the Cougars to rack up fouls, put the Vols in the bonus and allow them to score with the clock stopped. Obviously, the recipe for Tennessee is to shoot it better. After going 1 for 15 from 3-point range in the first half, that's clear. However, it's much easier said than done against this filthy Houston defense. The Cougars just have to keep it on the rails for 20 minutes and they'll cruise to their third Final Four appearance of the past five seasons.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 3:09 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Houston in control vs. Tennessee in Indianapolis 

HALF: (1) Houston 34, (2) Tennessee 15

No. 1 seed Houston just played one of the most impressive first halves of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Cougars will take a 34-15 lead into the locker room over No. 2 seed Tennessee and appear to be well on their way to securing a spot in the Final Four for second time since 2021. Houston led by as many as 21 points in the first half and held Tennessee to 6 of 28 shooting from the floor.

Houston, the No. 1 ranked 3-point shooting team in the country, connected on only 30% of its triples (3 of 10) in the first half, but it didn't matter because the defense has been that good. Seven different Cougars scored, including a game-high 10 points from guard LJ Cryer. 

Tennessee's 15 points is the smallest first-half total a top-two seed in NCAA Tournament history.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 2:59 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Still all Houston in Indy

MID 1H: (1) Houston 27, (2) Tennessee 8

This has been a statement half for Kelvin Sampson and company at Houston. The Cougars have led by as many as 21 points during the first 16 minutes and are holding Tennessee to 5-of-24 shooting from the floor. Houston appears to be well on its way to another Final Four appearance.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 2:50 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Still Houston from Indy

MID 1H: (1) Houston 22, (2) Tennessee 8

The first 12 minutes have been all Houston. The Cougars led by as many as 16 points in the opening half and are riding a relentless defensive effort to stay in front. Tennessee is shooting 3 of 16 (18.8%) from the floor. Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the country, so this slow start is far from ideal for Tennessee.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 2:38 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Tennessee is cold from the floor

EARLY 1H: (1) Houston 15, (2) Tennessee 4

Remember when I talked about defense a few minutes ago? Houston, the team that ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom, is showing up. Tennessee has missed its last seven field goal attempts and hasn't scored in over three minutes. Houston is on an 11-2 run.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 2:29 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Houston up early

EARLY 1H: (1) Houston 9, (2) Tennessee 2

If you want a game with bunches of scoring or teams playing in transition, this game isn't for you. But if you love defense, this is the ideal game to watch. Tennessee has missed four of its first five field goal attempts, while Houston is 4-of-8 from the floor. Houston forward Joseph Tugler has a game-high four points in the first five minutes. Defense is going to decide this one in Indianapolis.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 2:15 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tennessee shows variety

When Tennessee reached the Elite Eight last season, it do so on the back of first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht. The eventual first-round selection of the Los Angeles Lakers turned in one of the great individual seasons in program history as the Vols matched their deepest-ever NCAA Tournament run. But in Friday's 78-65 win over No. 3 seed Kentucky, the No. 2 seed Volunteers showed what could make this year's squad more dangerous. Instead of one perimeter weapon leading the charge, it was a trio of guards who spearheaded the Vols in their win over an SEC rival. Zakai Zeigler had 18 points and 10 assists, Chaz Lanier added 17 points and Jordan Gainey contributed 16. All three have been "the guy" at times this season, and they were collectively too much for Kentucky to handle.

[Mar 30, 2025 at 1:50 pm ET · Dennis Dodd]

How Houston got here

INDIANAPOLIS – It was the biggest pass of Joseph Tugler's life. In the end, it might be the biggest pass in Houston's basketball history.

"Instinctively instinctive," Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson called it. 

"Total improvisation," Houston assistant Kellen Sampson said. 

"I can't stop watching it, over and over again," Tugler's sister Elexar told CBS Sports.

No. 1 seed Houston is here in Sunday's Midwest Regional Final against No. 2 seed Tennessee largely because of Tugler. In case you weren't up in the early morning hours Saturday, the Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight over Purdue because of a game-winning basket by Milos Uzan with 0.9 seconds left.

Houston finding an unlikely hero, Tennessee pursuing first Final Four add to intriguing Elite Eight matchup

Dennis Dodd

d

[Mar 30, 2025 at 1:20 pm ET · Dennis Dodd]

How Tennessee got here

INDIANAPOLIS -- With less than five minutes to go Friday night in the Sweet 16, Zakai Zeigler did something no other Tennessee player had dared attempt all season against this opponent. 

Tennessee's masterful guard pointed to the scoreboard.

You see, in the previous two meetings against Kentucky, the Vols had never led by more than three at any point. That failing contributed to a greater failure — losing twice to the Wildcats this season.

In the house that Manning built, Lucas Oil Stadium, from the seat Peyton Manning actually sat in near the Tennessee bench, the view was pretty good this time for the Vols.

Zakai Zeigler and Tennessee get the last laugh on Kentucky, but a historic Final Four berth still one win away

Dennis Dodd

[Mar 30, 2025 at 12:55 pm ET · Isaac Trotter]

Houston vs. Tennessee scouting report

Do you even need a write-up on this? You already know the hand-to-hand combat that's on tap. These are two of the most physical teams in America. Unfortunately, the whistles are going to determine this game. There will be hits in this one that can be called Every. Single. Time. If this turns into a foul-fest, it quickly becomes a war of attrition with the last man standing making the Final Four.

I've long been a Jahmai Mashack defender, but Tennessee may have to quickly pivot to as many four-shooter lineups as possible against this Houston trapping defense. That means getting stud sixth man Jordan Gainey on the floor as quickly as possible. But Igor Milicic is the true X-Factor behind all of this.

Full scouting report and pick 👇

March Madness arrives at historic Elite Eight: Picks, scouting reports for each game with Final Four at stake

Isaac Trotter

[Mar 30, 2025 at 12:20 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Houston vs. Tennessee prediction

Purdue gave Houston's defense one of its toughest tests this season and kept it close before falling just short of a massive upset. The Cougars may take confidence from their ability to close out the game, but the narrow win also showed just enough vulnerability for Tennessee to see an opportunity.

Meanwhile, the Volunteers looked dominant Friday, exceeding expectations in a 13-point win over Kentucky as a 4.5-point favorite. Senior guards Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey combined for 51 points, and the defense held the Wildcats to their lowest point total since Dec. 21. 

Tennessee is rolling, playing in Peyton's house, with a chance to reach its first Final Four in program history. The Vols aren't just a value play on the spread, they're a live underdog to win outright in Indianapolis. Pick: Tennessee +3.5 

2025 March Madness predictions: NCAA bracket expert picks against the spread, Elite Eight odds for Sunday

Chip Patterson