GO COOGS!
Big 12 champ and No. 3 Houston wraps regular season with win at Baylor
Mar 10, 2025, 10:47 am
The Cougars beat Baylor, 65-61. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images.
L.J. Cryer scored 23 points with six 3-pointers as Big 12 champion and third-ranked Houston won its 10th consecutive game, beating Baylor 65-61 on Saturday night to wrap up the regular season.
J'Wan Roberts added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (27-4, 19-1 Big 12), including two free throws with 13 seconds remaining. Milos Uzan had 12 points and Emanuel Sharp scored 11.
The Cougars won without making a field goal after Sharp's 3-pointer for a 58-48 lead with 6:07 left. They have won a national-best 14 road games in a row, including a 10-0 mark in Big 12 play.
Baylor (18-13, 10-10) led 29-26 at halftime and was up by seven before the Cougars used a 20-4 run to take the lead for good.
Freshman guard VJ Edgecombe scored 23 points for the Bears, who have lost four of their last six games.
Norchad Omier had 13 points and 16 rebounds, his 87th career double-double to match Tim Duncan’s total at Wake Forest for the second-most in NCAA history. Tom Gola had 96 for La Salle in the 1950s.
Takeaways
Houston: The Cougars have at least 27 wins for the fifth season in a row under coach Kelvin Sampson. ... Roberts has 1,000 career rebounds and 1,000 points, joining Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon and Greg Anderson as the only Houston players to accomplish that feat.
Baylor: The Bears didn’t have a winning conference record for the first time since an 8-10 Big 12 mark in 2017-18.
Key moment
Ja’Vier Francis' baseline dunk eight minutes into the second half gave Houston its first lead since the 8:08 mark of the first.
Key stat
Cryer, part of Baylor's 2021 national championship team as a freshman, made his first six 3s. His first miss came early in the second half.
Up next
The Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. Houston has a double-bye into the quarterfinals Thursday. Baylor, the No. 7 seed, plays a second-round game Wednesday.
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How soon could we see roster changes if the Astros get off to another slow start? Composite Getty Image.
The Astros received a major sigh of relief as Christian Walker’s sore oblique showed no signs of strain. The potential injury scare could have had significant implications for Houston’s roster construction, particularly for top prospect Cam Smith. If Walker had been sidelined for an extended period, it might have opened the door for Smith to make the big league roster sooner rather than later.
When Smith does make his debut, the Astros face a crucial decision on his defensive position. Will he slot in at third base, with Isaac Paredes shifting to second? Or will Houston continue experimenting with him in right field, despite his limited experience at the position? The uncertainty surrounding Chas McCormick’s role in right field could factor into the equation as well. If McCormick struggles early, the Astros may be forced to accelerate Smith’s transition to the outfield.
Meanwhile, Astros general manager Dana Brown has openly acknowledged that the bullpen remains an area of concern. He emphasized that innings 5-7 are still up in the air, which led to Houston signing left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks, who posted a 4.50 ERA and recorded 10 saves between the Pirates and Rockies last season. Whether Beeks is the answer remains to be seen, but Brown’s comments suggest the team is still exploring additional reinforcements.
While Houston has had its share of injury struggles, the Yankees are now facing their own health crises. Gerrit Cole, their ace, is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for the entire season. Additionally, slugger Giancarlo Stanton is battling elbow issues that could keep him out for an extended period. Last season, the Astros dealt with key injuries to Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy, Justin Verlander, and JP France, and now it appears New York is suffering a similar fate. With the Yankees' roster in flux, their status as the favorites to win the American League could be in jeopardy.
As the Astros navigate these uncertainties, one thing is clear: the roster puzzle is far from complete. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how Houston solidifies its bullpen, outfield, and infield depth to ensure another competitive season.
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