COOGS WIN AGAIN!
Shead scores 23, Sampson ejected as No. 5 Houston defeats Oklahoma State
Feb 7, 2024, 9:20 am
Cougars win 79-63. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Jamal Shead scored 23 points, Emanuel Sharp added 16 points and No. 5 Houston beat Oklahoma State 79-63 on Tuesday night.
The Cougars played most of the second half without coach Kelvin Sampson, who got two technical fouls and was ejected with 15:08 remaining. Sampson stormed to the other end of the court and started yelling at the officials for not calling fouls against Oklahoma State. He had to be restrained by his players and assistant coaches and ushered off the floor.
It was Sampson’s first ejection in 10 years of coaching at Houston.
“I have no thoughts,” Sampson said when asked about the incident and his thoughts. “So, if I say something, answer your question, they fine me $25,000, what part of the $25,000 are you willing to pay? So, don’t ask me silly questions because it’s a $25,000 fine if I tell the truth. So, I can’t, so don’t ask me.”
Shead had 17 points in the first half on 6-of-10 shooting as Houston built a 40-21 halftime lead. Shead, who finished 8 of 12, scored just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting in Houston’s 78-65 loss at Kansas on Saturday.
“These guys follow (Jamal),” Sampson said. “He has such great control of the game. When the ball is in his hands, when the ball is not in his hands. We’ve had some great leaders here. … Jamal’s the best leader we’ve had. Our kids respect him because he works hard in practice every day, too, so that gives him credibility.”
Mylik Wilson had 12 points for Houston. After allowing Kansas to shoot 69%, the Cougars (20-3, 7-3 Big 12) limited Oklahoma State to 40% shooting and 5 of 21 on 3-pointers. Houston also outrebounded the Cowboys 34-27 and turned 17 turnovers into 24 points.
“It was a good win,” Sampson said. “In this league, they’re all great wins because they all count the same. For us, it’s a good bounce back.”
Houston shot 50% and extended the team’s home winning streak to 18 games.
Javon Small scored 18 points and John-Michael Wright added 13 points for Oklahoma State (10-13, 2-8).
“Jamal Shead played like an All-American, first-team All-American to be clear and the player of the year who was not going to be denied tonight on either end,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton Jr. said. “Our guys competed, but we couldn’t match what they had today.”
Leading 9-8 with 14 minutes remaining, Houston reeled off 13 straight to open a 14-point lead on Shead’s jumper with nine minutes remaining in the first half. The run was highlighted by a no-look shot off the backboard from the paint by Wilson that resulted in a three-point play.
BIG PICTURE
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys dropped to 0-7 in Quad 1 games and 0-6 on the road this season. Oklahoma State went 24 of 37 from the free-throw line.
Houston: The Cougars won their 20th game for a ninth straight season. Houston improved to 14-0 in Quads 2-4 games. The Cougars are 6-3 in Quad 1 games.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State: Travels to Oklahoma on Saturday night.
Houston: Travels to Cincinnati on Saturday.
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A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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