No. 4 Houston outlasts struggling Texas in OT

Field Level Media|published: Tue 30th January, 24:05 2024

Jan 29, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) drives to the basket between Houston Cougars forward Ja'Vier Francis (5) and guard Mylik Wilson (8) during the first half at Moody Center. credits: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Shead recorded 25 points and eight rebounds before fouling out to help No. 4 Houston pull out a 76-72 overtime victory over Texas on Monday night in Big 12 play at Austin, Texas.

J'Wan Roberts converted a tiebreaking second-chance layup with 37 seconds left in the extra session as the Cougars (19-2, 6-2 Big 12) notched their fifth straight win. Roberts had 14 points and eight rebounds, LJ Cryer also scored 14 points and Emanuel Sharp had 13 points and eight rebounds for Houston.

Max Abmas scored 20 points and Dillon Mitchell had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Texas (14-7, 3-5), which lost for the fifth time in eight games. Dylan Disu added 14 points before fouling out for the Longhorns, who put up the most points against the Cougars' top-ranked defense this season.

The former Southwest Conference rivals were meeting for just the second time in 23 seasons. Their most recent matchup came in the first round of the 2013 College Basketball Invitational.

Sharp hit two free throws with 10 seconds left in overtime to give Houston a 74-70 lead.

Abmas was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer with three seconds left. He made the first two free throws to pull the Longhorns within two and missed the third intentionally with Houston's Joseph Tugler grabbing the rebound. Sharp then made two free throws with one second left to seal the victory.

Abmas moved into sole possession of 14th place on the Division I all-time scoring list with 2,934 career points. He entered the game tied with Alfredrick Hughes (2,914 points from 1981-85) of Loyola Chicago.

Neither team made a field goal in overtime until Tugler scored on a putback dunk to give the Cougars a 70-67 lead with 1:33 remaining. Abmas converted a three-point play for Texas to tie it with 1:07 to go.

In regulation, Texas' Chendall Weaver hit two free throws with 2:14 left to make it a four-point margin.

But Houston scored six of the last eight points, with Roberts making a layup to tie it at 65 with 1:25 left.

The Cougars shot 41.2 percent from the field, including 8 of 24 from 3-point range.

Texas made 43.3 percent of its shots and was 6 of 20 from behind the arc.

Shead scored 11 first-half points as the Cougars led 33-25 at the break.

—Field Level Media