WICHITA, Kan. — LJ Cryer matched a profession excessive with 30 factors, together with two free throws with 14.2 seconds left, and No. 1 seed Houston held on to beat eighth-seeded Gonzaga 81-76 on Saturday night time to achieve the Candy 16 for the sixth straight NCAA Match.
J’Wan Roberts added 18 factors, and Milos Uzan made two final free throws with 2.1 seconds left to provide the Cougars (32-4) their fifteenth consecutive win and push them right into a regional semifinal in opposition to fourth-seeded Purdue on Friday night time in Indianapolis.
Houston additionally ended Gonzaga’s run of 9 straight Candy 16s, which had been the longest energetic streak within the nation.
Gonzaga (26-9) was trailing 76-67 with simply over 2 minutes to go when Graham Ike made two free throws to start out its comeback, most of it coming on the foul line. And when Uzan turned the ball over and Khalif Battle made two free throws of his personal, the Bulldogs had pulled to 77-76 with 21 seconds remaining.
Houston bought the ball to Cryer, who was fouled, and he made each of his free throws to increase the lead. On the different finish, Ja’Vier Francis stuffed Battle’s tying 3-point attempt, and Uzan knocked down his foul photographs to seal the win.
Ike completed with 27 factors to steer the Bulldogs. Battle had 17.
Provided that no program has gained extra video games than Gonzaga and Houston over the previous eight seasons, it appeared as if their second-round matchup within the Midwest Area would have been higher suited to the second weekend.
And even the Ultimate 4, the place the Bulldogs and Cougars have been on reverse sides of the bracket in 2021.
But for a lot of the sport, Houston regarded each bit deserving of its No. 1 seed and Gonzaga its spot at No. 8. The Cougars asserted their bodily dominance on the perennial West Coast Convention energy, whereas Cryer — the Huge 12 participant of the yr — poured in 16 first-half factors to provide Houston a 35-27 lead on the break.
Roberts, who sprained his ankle in final week’s convention match, took over within the second half. The winningest participant in Cougars historical past bullied his method to 5 baskets within the first six minutes, serving to the Cougars to take care of their lead.
Gonzaga made one closing run down the stretch however may by no means overtake them.
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