HOUSTON (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 20 points and No. 4 Houston clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title for a second straight season with a 73-64 win over Cincinnati on Saturday.
Terrance Arceneaux added 10 points for Houston (25-4, 17-1 Big 12), which has won eight straight. The Cougars became the first team to win the regular-season championship in its first two years in a major conference since Idaho, which won the PCC in the 1921-22 and 1922-23 seasons. Houston joined the Big 12 in 2023.
The Cougars, who have won 12 straight over Cincinnati, shot 54% and owned a 17-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Day Day Thomas scored 19 points and Jizzle James added 18 for Cincinnati (17-12, 7-11). The Bearcats shot 44% and were 6 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats missed a chance to improve their resume for a possible NCAA Tournament berth. Cincinnati fell to 1-10 in Quad 1 games this season.
Houston: The Cougars continue to help their cause for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with their 21st win in 22 games. Houston improved to 15-4 in Quad 1 and 2 games this season, with all of its losses coming in Quad 1 games.
Trailing 10-2 with 13½ minutes left in the first half, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson called timeout, and Cryer hit a jumper out of it to start a 18-2 run. Houston led 37-25 at the half.
Houston dominated the paint with a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Houston hosts Kansas on Monday, and Cincinnati hosts Kansas State on Wednesday.
–
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
|
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| D. Thomas | 19 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| J. James | 18 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| A. Bandaogo | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| D. Mitchell | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| J. Reed | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| S. Lukosius | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| D. Skillings Jr. | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| A. Page | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Betsey | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Anthony | – | – | – | – |
| R. Griffith | – | – | – | – |
| H. Dzellat | – | – | – | – |
| J. Rembert | – | – | – | – |
| C. Fredrick Jr. | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 64 | 27 | 9 | 18 |
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| L. Cryer | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| E. Sharp | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| J. Roberts | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| M. Uzan | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| J. Tugler | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| T. Arceneaux | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| M. Wilson | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| J. Francis | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| C. Lath | – | – | – | – |
| K. Jefferson | – | – | – | – |
| C. McCarty | – | – | – | – |
| M. Miller | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 73 | 23 | 9 | 13 |