#4/4 Men’s Basketball Takes Overtime Thriller at Texas

HOUSTON (AP) – Senior forward J'Wan Roberts made a tie-breaking layup with 37 seconds left in overtime, and sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp's four free throws over the final 10 seconds sent #4/4 Houston to a 76-72 win in overtime over rv/rv Texas inside Moody Center on Monday night.

Senior point guard Jamal Shead led all scorers with 25 points for Houston (19-2, 6-2 Big 12). Shead came up with big shots time after time in a defensive slugfest when the Cougars struggled to find any offensive rhythm.

"We're not really trying to be the prettiest team. That's never been my deal. We're just trying to win the game," Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said.

Shead's consecutive 3-pointers in the second half came as part of a 9-0 run that helped Houston regain the lead after Texas had rallied from 11 points down. The Big 12's best defensive team held the Longhorns to a single basket in overtime.

"We just went back to playing our defense," Sampson said. "We said, â€˜Let's get out and stop the ball.'"

Max Abmas scored 20 for Texas (14-7, 3-5), but missed a wild layup with a chance to tie before the rebound fell to Sharp, setting up two free throws for a four-point Cougars lead.

Abmas was then fouled on a 3-pointer. He made two free throws and missed the third, but Sharp again snagged the rebound and made two more free throws to seal the win.

Shead, a senior who grew up in the Austin area, finally got a chance to play in his hometown. He said he never really dreamed of playing at Texas while growing up because he didn't think the top programs would recruit him.

"The one school that showed interest in me first got me," Shead said.

BIG PICTURE

Houston: A rivalry with Texas could have been one of the spiciest in the Big 12, but it will instead be a short-lived one for the old Southwest Conference members. Monday night was their first meeting since 2013, and the first of two regular-season matchups in the Cougars' first season in the Big 12. But the Longhorns depart for the Southeastern Conference next season. The rematch in Houston is Feb. 17.

Texas: The Longhorns are struggling again in the Big 12. After a 1-3 start to league play with a pair of home losses, Texas went 2-2 in a stretch of four games in 10 days against ranked opponents. The Longhorns won't be an easy matchup for anybody, but are seeing their league title hopes rapidly disappear with three home losses already.

"We don't do the moral victory thing," forward Dylan Disu said. "We're happy we're fighting, but we need to come out with wins."

BOARD BATTLE

Houston outrebounded Texas 47-36 overall and 15-8 on the offensive glass. Houston's first basket of overtime came on Joseph Tugler's dunk off an offensive rebound. The Cougars outscored Texas 19-8 on second-chance points.

"They thrive on second-chance rebounds," Texas coach Rodney Terry said. "They do a great job of constantly crashing the glass."

TOUGH BUT CLEAN

As physical as the game was, there were surprisingly few fouls called for much of the night. Houston's two free throws for the Cougars' first points were the only time either team got to the line in the first half.

UP NEXT
• Following Monday's game, the Cougars open the month of February when they meet #7/8 Kansas at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. That game can be seen on ESPN.
• From there, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to host Oklahoma State at 6 p.m., Feb. 6. That game will air on ESPN or ESPN2.
• The Cougars take on Cincinnati at 3 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 10, inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. That game will air on ESPN or ESPN2.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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