COOGS DEFEAT LONGHORNS
No. 4 Houston secures thrilling victory over Texas in overtime
Jan 30, 2024, 9:09 am
COOGS DEFEAT LONGHORNS
J'Wan Roberts made a tiebreaking layup with 37 seconds left in overtime and Emanuel Sharp's four free throws over the final 10 seconds sent No. 4 Houston to a 76-72 win over Texas on Monday night.
Jamal Shead led all scorers with 25 points for Houston (19-2, 6-2 Big 12). Shead came up with big shots time after time in a defensive slugfest when the Cougars struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
“We’re not really trying to be the prettiest team. That’s never been my deal. We're just trying to win the game,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said.
Shead's consecutive 3-pointers in the second half came as part of a 9-0 run that helped Houston regain the lead after Texas had rallied from 11 points down. The Big 12's best defensive team held the Longhorns to a single basket in overtime.
“We just went back to playing our defense,” Sampson said. “We said, ‘Let's get out and stop the ball.’”
Max Abmas scored 20 for Texas (14-7, 3-5), but missed a wild layup with a chance to tie before the rebound fell to Sharp, setting up two free throws for a four-point Cougars lead.
Abmas was then fouled on a 3-pointer. He made two free throws and missed the third, but Sharp again snagged the rebound and made two more free throws to seal the win.
Shead, a senior who grew up in the Austin area, finally got a chance to play in his hometown. He said he never really dreamed of playing at Texas while growing up because he didn't think the top programs would recruit him.
“The one school that showed interest in me first got me,” Shead said.
BIG PICTURE
Houston: A rivalry with Texas could have been one of the spiciest in the Big 12, but it will instead be a short-lived one for the old Southwest Conference members. Monday night was their first meeting since 2013, and the first of two regular-season matchups in the Cougars' first season in the Big 12. But the Longhorns depart for the Southeastern Conference next season. The rematch in Houston is Feb. 17.
Texas: The Longhorns are struggling again in the Big 12. After a 1-3 start to league play with a pair of home losses, Texas went 2-2 in a stretch of four games in 10 days against ranked opponents. The Longhorns won't be an easy matchup for anybody, but are seeing their league title hopes rapidly disappear with three home losses already.
“We don't do the moral victory thing,” forward Dylan Disu said. “We're happy we're fighting, but we need to come out with wins.”
BOARD BATTLE
Houston outrebounded Texas 47-36 overall and 15-8 on the offensive glass. Houston's first basket of overtime came on Joseph Tugler's dunk off an offensive rebound. The Cougars outscored Texas 19-8 on second-chance points.
“They thrive on second-chance rebounds,” Texas coach Rodney Terry said. “They do a great job of constantly crashing the glass.”
TOUGH BUT CLEAN
As physical as the game was, there were surprisingly few fouls called for much of the night. Houston’s two free throws for the Cougars’ first points were the only time either team got to the line in the first half.
UP NEXT
Houston plays at No. 8 Kansas on Saturday.
Texas visits TCU on Saturday.
Christian Walker homered in a three-run second, Ryan Gusto pitched well into the sixth and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.
CHRISTIAN SKYWALKER. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/EZxbda3HT3
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 24, 2025
Walker led off the second with a home run to left off Bowden Francis (2-3), Yainer Diaz tripled and scored on Zach Dezenzo's RBI single and Yordan Alvarez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Gusto (3-1) allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gusto has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.
Bryan King pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Bryan Abreu threw a scoreless eighth.
George Springer walked, and Ernie Clement doubled with one out in the ninth, but Josh Hader struck out Alejandro Kirk and induced a flyout by Myles Straw for his seventh save.
Houston has won five of its last six.
Springer hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. They have lost five straight games.
Francis surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts.
Hader striking out Kirk and getting Straw to flyout to center to end it.
The Astros swept the Blue Jays for the first time since they swept a four-game series in Houston on May 14-17, 2015.
Julia Morales caught up with Walker after the game.
#Astros beat the Blue Jays 3-1
Christian Walker 2-4, HR & spoke with @JuliaMorales after the @astros WIN#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/MyRYdVwidH
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 24, 2025
Houston starts a three-game series Friday at Kansas City, with RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 3.91 ERA) starting the opener. Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 5.02) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Yankees.
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