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Tuesday, January 23
Provo, Utah
8 p.m. CT
University of Houston
17-2,4-2Big 12
75
at
68
#21/19 BYU
14-5,2-4Big 12
1
2
F
Houston
41
34
75
BYU
34
34
68
Photo by: Jon Burke
#4/4 Men's Basketball Earns First Big 12 Road Win
1/23/2024 10:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Box ScoreHIGHLIGHTS (YouTube)Postgame Press Conference (YouTube)Game Book (PDF)Season Statistics (PDF)
Cougars knock down 10 3-pointers in 75-68 win at BYU
PROVO, Utah (AP) – University of Houston senior guard L.J. Cryer scored 23 points to lead No. 4 Houston to a 75-68 victory over #21/19 BYU inside Marriott Center on Tuesday night.
Senior point guard Jamal Shead chipped in 16 points, and senior guard Damian Dunn added 10 for Houston, which scored 17 points off 13 BYU turnovers and finished with a 15-7 advantage in second-chance points.
It was Houston's first Big 12 road victory after close losses at Iowa State and TCU earlier in the month. Cryer played a key role in making it happen by knocking down five 3-pointers and shooting 50% from the field overall.
"I played bad in both of those games, so I knew in order for us to win on the road, I was going to have to step up, other guys were going to have to step up, and I feel like that's what we did," Cryer said.
Noah Waterman led BYU with 17 points while Jaxson Robinson added 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. BYU outscored Houston 28-22 in the paint and 13-7 in fastbreak points but only shot 29% from 3-point range.
BYU trailed most of the second half until tying it at 68 on Waterman's 3-pointer with 2:15 left. Trevin Knell missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
"We put ourselves in a position where we had a chance and we just couldn't get over the top of it," BYU coach Mark Pope said. "We'll keep battling. We have a really good team and a good group in this locker room."
Cryer and Shead combined to make six free throws in the final minute to help Houston stave off the comeback. Houston did not score any baskets over the final four minutes.
"We're getting better at the free throw line," Shead said. "We make them when we need them. I think that's really big."
BYU made six straight baskets to fuel a 14-4 run midway through the first half. Richie Saunders capped the run by powering to the rim for a layup for a 25-20 lead.
Houston held BYU to a single basket over the final 4 1/2 minutes of the first half and took a 41-34 halftime lead. Shead bookended an 11-2 run with a go-ahead 3-pointer and a layup to put Houston in front.
Houston pushed the lead to double digits after halftime. After Knell capped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer to bring BYU within three, Houston countered with a 10-0 spurt punctuated by a jumper from Dunn to extend its lead to 56-43. BYU missed five straight shots and committed four turnovers over a 3 1/2-minute stretch to open a door for Houston to take control.
BYU got back in the game behind a 12-2 run and cut the deficit to 61-58 on a reverse layup from Robinson.
"It tested our resolve," Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson said. "You got to be resilient playing here because they're going to go on runs."
BIG PICTURE
Houston became the first Big 12 team to lead BYU at halftime this season by crashing the glass for offensive rebounds and pressuring passing lanes to force turnovers.
BYU found success in attacking the rim but settled for deep 3-pointers on far too many possessions. UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to play host to rv/rv Kansas State at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27.
• That game can be seen on ESPN.
• From there, the Cougars close the month of January when they meet rv/rv Texas at 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, inside Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
• That game will be show on ESPN.
• Houston opens the month of February when it meets #7/8 Kansas at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
• That game can be seen on ESPN.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Senior point guard Jamal Shead chipped in 16 points, and senior guard Damian Dunn added 10 for Houston, which scored 17 points off 13 BYU turnovers and finished with a 15-7 advantage in second-chance points.
It was Houston's first Big 12 road victory after close losses at Iowa State and TCU earlier in the month. Cryer played a key role in making it happen by knocking down five 3-pointers and shooting 50% from the field overall.
"I played bad in both of those games, so I knew in order for us to win on the road, I was going to have to step up, other guys were going to have to step up, and I feel like that's what we did," Cryer said.
Noah Waterman led BYU with 17 points while Jaxson Robinson added 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. BYU outscored Houston 28-22 in the paint and 13-7 in fastbreak points but only shot 29% from 3-point range.
BYU trailed most of the second half until tying it at 68 on Waterman's 3-pointer with 2:15 left. Trevin Knell missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
"We put ourselves in a position where we had a chance and we just couldn't get over the top of it," BYU coach Mark Pope said. "We'll keep battling. We have a really good team and a good group in this locker room."
Cryer and Shead combined to make six free throws in the final minute to help Houston stave off the comeback. Houston did not score any baskets over the final four minutes.
"We're getting better at the free throw line," Shead said. "We make them when we need them. I think that's really big."
BYU made six straight baskets to fuel a 14-4 run midway through the first half. Richie Saunders capped the run by powering to the rim for a layup for a 25-20 lead.
Houston held BYU to a single basket over the final 4 1/2 minutes of the first half and took a 41-34 halftime lead. Shead bookended an 11-2 run with a go-ahead 3-pointer and a layup to put Houston in front.
Houston pushed the lead to double digits after halftime. After Knell capped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer to bring BYU within three, Houston countered with a 10-0 spurt punctuated by a jumper from Dunn to extend its lead to 56-43. BYU missed five straight shots and committed four turnovers over a 3 1/2-minute stretch to open a door for Houston to take control.
BYU got back in the game behind a 12-2 run and cut the deficit to 61-58 on a reverse layup from Robinson.
"It tested our resolve," Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson said. "You got to be resilient playing here because they're going to go on runs."
BIG PICTURE
Houston became the first Big 12 team to lead BYU at halftime this season by crashing the glass for offensive rebounds and pressuring passing lanes to force turnovers.
BYU found success in attacking the rim but settled for deep 3-pointers on far too many possessions. UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to play host to rv/rv Kansas State at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27.
• That game can be seen on ESPN.
• From there, the Cougars close the month of January when they meet rv/rv Texas at 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, inside Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
• That game will be show on ESPN.
• Houston opens the month of February when it meets #7/8 Kansas at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
• That game can be seen on ESPN.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
UH
BYU
FG%
.407
.424
3FG%
.435
.289
FT%
.708
.700
RB
41
34
TO
9
13
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
7
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