COOGS DEFEAT LONGHORNS
No. 4 Houston secures thrilling victory over Texas in overtime
Jan 30, 2024, 9:09 am
Cougars defeat the Horns in OT. Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images.
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.
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Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.
The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.
“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.
Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.
He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.
“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”
His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.