The Baylor Bears extend their winning streak to seven, while the Texas Longhorns continue a streak of their own.

College Basketball Report: Week 6

UT basketball coach Shaka Smart
Shaka Smart and Texas. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

TEXAS LONGHORNS (9-1)

Last week (1-0): W-Central Michigan 87-76

This week: Saturdayvs. Providence

The Texas Longhorns had a short week but continued their winning ways against Central Michigan on Saturday. The Longhorns extended their winning streak to five in an 87-76 victory over the Chippewas.

It was a backcourt affair inside the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center in Austin as Texas' junior guard, Jase Febres posted a game-high 23 points (7-11 FG, 7-10 3PT), while second-year guard Courtney Ramey added in a career-high 20 points in the win. Following the victory, the Longhorns will return to action on Saturday for a road match against Providence in Rhode Island

TEXAS A&M AGGIES (4-5)

Last week (1-0): W - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 63-60

This week: Saturday vs. Oregon State

The Texas A&M Aggies ended their four-game losing skid in a 63-60 victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Sunday. It was a big come from behind win for the Aggies, as Texas A&M trailed by 11 early in the second half. They went on to outscore the Islanders by 10 in the second half (39-29), as Emanuel Miller scored 20 points while shooting 7-8 from the floor.

After allowing nine made 3-point field goals in the first half, the Aggies picked up their defensive intensity and held the Islanders to shoot 20% (2-10 3PT) from behind the arc in the second half. With one game on the schedule, the Aggies will look to make it two straight wins on Saturday when they take on Oregon State.

HOUSTON COUGARS (6-3)

Last week (1-1): W - UT Arlington 71-63, L - Oklahoma State 61-55

This week: Thursday vs. UTEP, Sunday Portland

The Houston Cougars had one heck of the week that ended in heartbreak. The Cougars extended their winning streak to four in a 61-55 victory over the UT-Arlington Mavericks on Wednesday. It was a wire-to-wire victory on a night where sophomore guard, Nate Hinton, scored a career-best 25-points (9-15 FG, 4-8 3PT) and 10 rebounds in the win.

Unfortunately, Houston's win streak came to a halt on Sunday in a 61-55 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. On a night where the Cougars struggled to buy a basket, freshman guard, Caleb Mills, was one of two players who scored in double-figures with a career-best 25 points in the loss. Mill's performance against OSU was enough to award him with the American Athletic freshman Player of the Week.

Following the win, the Cougars will return to the Fertitta Center for a contest against UTEP before opening their Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Sunday against Portland.

RICE OWLS (7-4)

Last week (1-0): W - Houston Baptist 96-84

This week: Thursday vs. St. Thomas

The Rice Owls overcame a 29-point performance from Houston Baptist' Ian DuBose to pick a victory over the winless Huskies on Saturday in a 96-84 win. Senior guard Robert Martin led the Owls with 20 points while shooting 8-for-9 from the field, 3-for-4 from behind the arc.

Following the win, the Rice Owls will return to Tudor Fieldhouse for a match against the St. Thomas Celts.

BAYLOR BEARS (8-1)

Last week (1-0): W - Butler 53-52

This week: Wednesday vs. Tennessee-Martin

The sizzling Baylor Bears continued their early-season success with a 53-52 victory against the No. 11 Butler Bulldogs on Tuesday. Junior forward Mark Vital sealed the one-point victory for the Bears with a game-winning block on Butler's Kamar Baldwin with 1.5 seconds remaining in the second half.

It was a total team effort by Baylor as guards MaCio Teague and Devonte Bandoo led the Bears in scoring with 10 points apiece.

Win the win, Baylor has extended their winning streak to seven, ahead of their home match against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks on Wednesday.

TCU HORNED FROGS (8-2)

Last week (2-0): W - Winthrop 70-60, W - Lamar 79-50

This week: Sunday vs Xavier

After a heartbreaking loss to USC, TCU picked up back-to-back convincing wins over Winthrop (70-60) and Lamar (79-50) last week. Both the Eagles and the Cardinals did not have an answer to slowing down the Horned Frogs, as TCU shot 47.3 from the floor, 34.4% from deep. Sophomore guard R.J. Nembhard averaged 14.0 points on 42% shooting from the floor, to go along with 6.5 rebounds in a two-game sweep.

TCU will return to action on Sunday to face off against the Xavier Musketeers.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (7-3)

Last week: (2-0) W - Louisville 70-57, W - Southern Mississippi 71-65

This week: Saturday vs. UTRGV

The Texas Tech Raiders ended their three-game losing skid in a convincing 70-57 victory over No. 1 ranked Louisville Cardinals. The win over the Cardinals was the first victory against a top-ranked team in the Red Raiders' program history.

Texas Tech completed the upset with a great defensive performance, as the Red Raiders held the Cardinals to 34.0% shooting from the field, and an unpleasant 17.6% from behind the arc. Following their second straight win over Southern Mississippi (71-65), Texas Tech will return to the court on Saturday for a showdown against the Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.

SMU MUSTANGS (8-1)

Last week (0-0): No Games Scheduled

This week: Tuesday vs Georgia Bulldogs, Monday Georgia State

With no games on the schedule, SMU will return to the floor on Tuesday, December 20th against the Georgia Bulldogs.

LSU TIGERS (7-2)

Last week (0-0): No Games Scheduled

This week: Wednesday vs East Tennessee St., Saturday USC

With no games on the schedule, LSU will return to the floor on Wednesday against East Tennessee St before taking on USC on Saturday.

ncaacollege basketball

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The suspension has been upheld. Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images.

The NFL and the NFL players association upheld Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's three-game suspension without pay for repeated violations of player safety rules following his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, who sustained a concussion and is now on injured reserve.

Hearing officer Ramon Foster, jointly appointed by the league and the players' union, ruled Wednesday.

Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced Tuesday by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons.

His most egregious one came in a 23-20 win at Jacksonville on Sunday.

Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence was scrambling in the second quarter and started to slide. But Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback.

In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan called the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules.”

“Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide,” Runyan wrote. “You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.”

Houston general manager Nick Caserio defended Al-Shaair and said he doesn’t believe the league is using consistency in issuing punishments such as these.

“I probably speak for a lot of teams, not only the Houston Texans, but I think that’s all teams ask for is consistency from the league,” he said. “And I’d say in this situation, quite frankly, there’s no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that’s been handed down.”

Al-Shaair won’t be eligible to return to Houston’s active roster until after the team’s Christmas Day game against Baltimore. Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him about $265,000 to miss three games.

Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair in what escalated into a brawl.

As Al-Shaair was leaving the field after being ejected, fans started screaming at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, prompting another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson in the helmet. The fan was later ejected.

Runyan also outlined Al-Shaair’s behavior after the hit in announcing the suspension.

“After the illegal hit, you proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask,” he wrote. “After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike acts, you removed your helmet and re-engaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.”

This is the third time this season Al-Shaair has been punished by the league. Last week, he was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard.

He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.

“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,” Runyan told Al-Shaair in the letter. “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”

texanshouston texans

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome