ORLANDO, Fla. — L.J. Cryer scored 19 of his 25 factors within the second half to carry No. 1 Houston to a come-from-behind 67-59 victory over UCF on Wednesday night time and clinch not less than a share of the regular-season Huge 12 title within the Cougars’ first season within the convention.
Houston, which moved from the American Athletic Convention, has gained both a convention match or regular-season title in six straight seasons.
The Cougars can clinch an outright convention title with a win of their final recreation of the common season in opposition to No. 14 Kansas on Saturday or a loss by sixth-ranked Iowa State on Saturday at Kansas State.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
“We knew the Huge 12 is the very best convention in school basketball,” Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts stated. “Houston has been a profitable program for a very long time. It did not actually matter which convention we ended up getting into, as soon as we traveled with our DNA and our toughness, I really feel like we are able to compete with anyone within the nation.”
Houston (27-3, 14-3) led by 9 factors after a Cryer 3-pointer with 2:18 to play. UCF (15-14, 6-11) closed to inside 4 with simply over a minute to play, after which Cryer hit one other clutch shot to tug away.
The Cougars trailed by as many as seven factors and by no means led within the first half. They didn’t take their first lead till Jamal Shead drained a 3 to make it 45-42 with about 12 minutes to play within the second half.
Houston’s protection stifled UCF all through the second half, holding the Knights to at least one subject aim over almost 5 minutes to take management of the sport.
“I really feel like there have been some turnovers in there for certain,” UCF guard Darius Johnson stated. “We had been enjoying on the perimeter and permitting them to be comfy on D.”
Shead completed with 16 factors and eight assists. Roberts had 12 factors and 7 rebounds. Cryer shot 9-of-17 from the ground, together with 5-of-11 on 3-pointers.
“Coach tells me to maintain capturing regardless of if I’m making or lacking,” Cryer stated. “As soon as I obtained going, they did a terrific job placing the ball in my arms and my teammates did a terrific job trusting me with the ball. We went on the market and did what we did.”
C.J. Walker led UCF with 15 factors. Jaylin Sellers added 12 factors.
The Knights shot 45.5% for the sport. They held the Cougars to 37.5% capturing and 2-for-11 from 3 within the first half.
Houston pressured 18 turnovers and scored 22 factors off them.
UCF had simply 4 factors off 10 pressured turnovers.
The Related Press contributed to this report.