Top Ranked Houston Cougars Clinch Share of Big 12 Title

ORLANDO (AP) – Senior guard LJ Cryer scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half to lift the No. 1 University of Houston Men's Basketball program to a come-from-behind 67-59 victory over UCF inside Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday night to clinch at least a share of the regular-season Big 12 title in the Cougars' first season in the conference.

Houston (27-3, 14-3) led by nine points after a Cryer 3-pointer with 2:18 to play. UCF (15-14, 6-11) closed to within four with just over a minute to play, and then Cryer hit another clutch shot to pull away for the win.

The Cougars trailed by as many as seven points and never led in the first half. They did not take their first lead until senior guard Jamal Shead drained a 3-pointer to make it 45-42 with about 12 minutes to play in the second half.

Houston's defense stifled UCF throughout the second half, holding them to one field goal over nearly five minutes to take control of the game.

Shead finished with 16 points and eight assists. Senior forward J'Wan Roberts had 12 points and seven rebounds. Cryer shot 9 of 17 from the floor, including 5-of-11 on 3-pointers.

C.J. Walker led UCF with 15 points. Jaylin Sellers added 12 points.

The Knights shot 45.5% for the game. They held the Cougars to 37.5% shooting and 2-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Houston forced 18 turnovers and scored 22 points off them.

UCF had just four points off 10 turnovers.

BIG PICTURE

Houston: The Cougars can clinch an outright conference title with a win in their last game of the regular season against No. 14 Kansas on Saturday or a loss by sixth-ranked Iowa State in either of its two remaining games.

UCF: The Knights need one more win to guarantee they will finish above .500 and get in position to receive one of the Big 12's automatic bids to the NIT.

UP NEXT

• Following Wednesday's game, the Cougars close their regular season and celebrate Senior Day when they play host to #14/15 Kansas inside Fertitta Center at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 9. That game will air on ESPN.

• Guards LJ Cryer, Jamal Shead, Damian Dunn, Mylik Wilson and Ryan Elvin and senior forward J'Wan Roberts will be recognized. Pregame Senior Day activities begin at 2:30 p.m., Saturday.

• From there, the Cougars will compete in their first Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. That journey begins in the Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14, inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

• Houston's seeding as well as its Quarterfinal opponent, game time and broadcasting network will be finalized with the completion of the regular season

• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.