STREAKING COOGS!
Cryer scores 22 points and No. 3 Houston beats Kansas for 9th straight win
Mar 3, 2025, 11:01 pm
STREAKING COOGS!
L.J. Cryer scored 22 points and No. 3 Houston won its ninth straight game with a 65-59 victory over Kansas on Monday night.
Emanuel Sharp added 12 points off the bench, including two free throws that pushed Houston's lead to 63-59 with 20 seconds left. The Cougars (26-4, 18-1 Big 12) went 4 of 4 from the foul line down the stretch.
Cryer had 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the first half as Houston took a 30-27 lead into the break.
Milos Uzan finished with 10 points, and Mylik Wilson had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Cougars, who shot 35% from the field and were 7 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Hunter Dickinson had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks (19-11, 10-9), who shot 45%. KJ Adams Jr. added 15 points and David Coit had 14 off the bench.
The Houston Rockets (37-24) travel to Indianapolis on Tuesday to take on the Indiana Pacers (34-25) as they aim to end their seven-game road losing streak.
Indiana has been strong at home, posting an 18-10 record while averaging 116.6 points per game. Pascal Siakam has been a key contributor, averaging 21.3 points and 7.2 rebounds over his last 10 games. Myles Turner continues to be a force in the paint, scoring 15.5 points per game while pulling down 6.5 rebounds.
Houston, despite recent road struggles, leads the Western Conference in offensive rebounding (14.6 per game). Alperen Sengun continues to anchor the Rockets’ attack, averaging 19.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Jalen Green has also provided a scoring boost, averaging 3.5 made three-pointers over his last 10 games.
Both teams have played .500 basketball or better over their last 10 games, with the Pacers going 6-4 and the Rockets sitting at 5-5. Indiana has thrived offensively, shooting 49.6% from the field during that span, while Houston has relied on its rebounding advantage to stay competitive.
Injury concerns could play a factor, with the Rockets dealing with several day-to-day absences, including Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Dillon Brooks. The Pacers will be without Isaiah Jackson for the season, and Bennedict Mathurin’s status remains uncertain.
Houston will need to improve its shooting efficiency and limit Indiana’s fast-paced offense if it hopes to leave Indianapolis with a much-needed road victory. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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