J’Wan Roberts (13) in an NCAA men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gillian Wisniewski/The Cougar

The longest active streak in the nation now belongs to the top-seeded Houston men’s basketball, after it defeated No. 8 seed Gonzaga 81-76 on Saturday in Wichita, Kan. to advance to its sixth-straight Sweet 16.

Before the game, Gonzaga had nine consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 and Houston had five. This was the first game in NCAA history with both teams on active streaks of five or more straight Sweet 16 appearances. One streak had to break and Houston ended up on the right side as graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts combined for 48 points to drive Houston to victory.

“Cryer and Roberts played the way they have been all year,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I am very blessed that I get to coach these two young men.”

Cryer tied his career-high with 30 points in the game. He also added three assists and made six 3-pointers while Roberts powered his way to a full stat line recording 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

They still had their work cut out for them.

With under three minutes remaining in the contest, Gonzaga switched to a full-court press which gave the Cougars some difficulty. 

The Bulldogs forced two Houston turnovers and senior guard Khalif Battle brought them within one point by sinking two free throws with 21 seconds left in the game.

Cryer was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws to make it back to a three-point game.

Senior forward Ja’Vier Francis blocked Battle’s 3-pointer and junior guard Milos grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the Cougars. 

The Zags’ second-half comeback was largely fueled by senior forward Graham Ike, who posted 23 points in the second half.  He finished with 27 points and five rebounds.

Gonzaga entered the game as the No. 2 offense averaging 86.7 points per game and Houston ranked as the No. 1 defense in the country only allowing 57.9 points per game.

“There is about a 28-point difference between those two numbers, something is going to give,” ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli said.

Houston’s defense did not give in. The Cougars forced 11 turnovers and held Gonzaga 10 points below their season average.

Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler led the way for the defense tallying two blocks and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also scored 10 points on 55% shooting.

Overall, Houston tallied seven steals and five blocks in the game while only recording seven total turnovers.

The Cougars also dominated the glass, outrebounding Gonzaga 33-27 and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Houston started hot, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead.

The Cougars controlled the pace in the first half leading by as many as 14 points.

Battle made a 3-point jumper late in the first half to pull within six points.

Tugler hit a jumper to give the Cougars a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Cougars scored 46 points in the second half to defeat Gonzaga and advance.

Battle followed with 17 points and six rebounds.

“That’s a really good team,” Sampson said. “If they had been seeded somewhere else they would have had the chance to make the Elite 8 or even the Final 4.”

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp finished the game with 12 points, while Uzan ended with seven points and eight assists.

With the win, the Cougars improved to 32-4 on the season and have won 15 straight games.

“I’m proud of my kids and I’m glad we found a way to win a tough game,” Sampson said. “That’s what this tournament is all about, win and advance.”

Houston now will match up against No. 4 seed Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, March 28, in Indianapolis, Ind.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston advances to sixth-straight Sweet Sixteen with victory over Gonzaga” was originally posted on The Cougar

J’Wan Roberts (13) in an NCAA men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gillian Wisniewski/The Cougar

The longest active streak in the nation now belongs to the top-seeded Houston men’s basketball, after it defeated No. 8 seed Gonzaga 81-76 on Saturday in Wichita, Kan. to advance to its sixth-straight Sweet 16.

Before the game, Gonzaga had nine consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 and Houston had five. This was the first game in NCAA history with both teams on active streaks of five or more straight Sweet 16 appearances. One streak had to break and Houston ended up on the right side as graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts combined for 48 points to drive Houston to victory.

“Cryer and Roberts played the way they have been all year,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I am very blessed that I get to coach these two young men.”

Cryer tied his career-high with 30 points in the game. He also added three assists and made six 3-pointers while Roberts powered his way to a full stat line recording 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

They still had their work cut out for them.

With under three minutes remaining in the contest, Gonzaga switched to a full-court press which gave the Cougars some difficulty. 

The Bulldogs forced two Houston turnovers and senior guard Khalif Battle brought them within one point by sinking two free throws with 21 seconds left in the game.

Cryer was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws to make it back to a three-point game.

Senior forward Ja’Vier Francis blocked Battle’s 3-pointer and junior guard Milos grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the Cougars. 

The Zags’ second-half comeback was largely fueled by senior forward Graham Ike, who posted 23 points in the second half.  He finished with 27 points and five rebounds.

Gonzaga entered the game as the No. 2 offense averaging 86.7 points per game and Houston ranked as the No. 1 defense in the country only allowing 57.9 points per game.

“There is about a 28-point difference between those two numbers, something is going to give,” ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli said.

Houston’s defense did not give in. The Cougars forced 11 turnovers and held Gonzaga 10 points below their season average.

Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler led the way for the defense tallying two blocks and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also scored 10 points on 55% shooting.

Overall, Houston tallied seven steals and five blocks in the game while only recording seven total turnovers.

The Cougars also dominated the glass, outrebounding Gonzaga 33-27 and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Houston started hot, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead.

The Cougars controlled the pace in the first half leading by as many as 14 points.

Battle made a 3-point jumper late in the first half to pull within six points.

Tugler hit a jumper to give the Cougars a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Cougars scored 46 points in the second half to defeat Gonzaga and advance.

Battle followed with 17 points and six rebounds.

“That’s a really good team,” Sampson said. “If they had been seeded somewhere else they would have had the chance to make the Elite 8 or even the Final 4.”

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp finished the game with 12 points, while Uzan ended with seven points and eight assists.

With the win, the Cougars improved to 32-4 on the season and have won 15 straight games.

“I’m proud of my kids and I’m glad we found a way to win a tough game,” Sampson said. “That’s what this tournament is all about, win and advance.”

Houston now will match up against No. 4 seed Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, March 28, in Indianapolis, Ind.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston advances to sixth-straight Sweet Sixteen with victory over Gonzaga” was originally posted on The Cougar

J’Wan Roberts (13) in an NCAA men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gillian Wisniewski/The Cougar

The longest active streak in the nation now belongs to the top-seeded Houston men’s basketball, after it defeated No. 8 seed Gonzaga 81-76 on Saturday in Wichita, Kan. to advance to its sixth-straight Sweet 16.

Before the game, Gonzaga had nine consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 and Houston had five. This was the first game in NCAA history with both teams on active streaks of five or more straight Sweet 16 appearances. One streak had to break and Houston ended up on the right side as graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts combined for 48 points to drive Houston to victory.

“Cryer and Roberts played the way they have been all year,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I am very blessed that I get to coach these two young men.”

Cryer tied his career-high with 30 points in the game. He also added three assists and made six 3-pointers while Roberts powered his way to a full stat line recording 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

They still had their work cut out for them.

With under three minutes remaining in the contest, Gonzaga switched to a full-court press which gave the Cougars some difficulty. 

The Bulldogs forced two Houston turnovers and senior guard Khalif Battle brought them within one point by sinking two free throws with 21 seconds left in the game.

Cryer was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws to make it back to a three-point game.

Senior forward Ja’Vier Francis blocked Battle’s 3-pointer and junior guard Milos grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the Cougars. 

The Zags’ second-half comeback was largely fueled by senior forward Graham Ike, who posted 23 points in the second half.  He finished with 27 points and five rebounds.

Gonzaga entered the game as the No. 2 offense averaging 86.7 points per game and Houston ranked as the No. 1 defense in the country only allowing 57.9 points per game.

“There is about a 28-point difference between those two numbers, something is going to give,” ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli said.

Houston’s defense did not give in. The Cougars forced 11 turnovers and held Gonzaga 10 points below their season average.

Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler led the way for the defense tallying two blocks and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also scored 10 points on 55% shooting.

Overall, Houston tallied seven steals and five blocks in the game while only recording seven total turnovers.

The Cougars also dominated the glass, outrebounding Gonzaga 33-27 and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Houston started hot, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead.

The Cougars controlled the pace in the first half leading by as many as 14 points.

Battle made a 3-point jumper late in the first half to pull within six points.

Tugler hit a jumper to give the Cougars a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Cougars scored 46 points in the second half to defeat Gonzaga and advance.

Battle followed with 17 points and six rebounds.

“That’s a really good team,” Sampson said. “If they had been seeded somewhere else they would have had the chance to make the Elite 8 or even the Final 4.”

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp finished the game with 12 points, while Uzan ended with seven points and eight assists.

With the win, the Cougars improved to 32-4 on the season and have won 15 straight games.

“I’m proud of my kids and I’m glad we found a way to win a tough game,” Sampson said. “That’s what this tournament is all about, win and advance.”

Houston now will match up against No. 4 seed Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, March 28, in Indianapolis, Ind.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston advances to sixth-straight Sweet Sixteen with victory over Gonzaga” was originally posted on The Cougar

J’Wan Roberts (13) in an NCAA men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gillian Wisniewski/The Cougar

The longest active streak in the nation now belongs to the top-seeded Houston men’s basketball, after it defeated No. 8 seed Gonzaga 81-76 on Saturday in Wichita, Kan. to advance to its sixth-straight Sweet 16.

Before the game, Gonzaga had nine consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 and Houston had five. This was the first game in NCAA history with both teams on active streaks of five or more straight Sweet 16 appearances. One streak had to break and Houston ended up on the right side as graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts combined for 48 points to drive Houston to victory.

“Cryer and Roberts played the way they have been all year,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I am very blessed that I get to coach these two young men.”

Cryer tied his career-high with 30 points in the game. He also added three assists and made six 3-pointers while Roberts powered his way to a full stat line recording 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

They still had their work cut out for them.

With under three minutes remaining in the contest, Gonzaga switched to a full-court press which gave the Cougars some difficulty. 

The Bulldogs forced two Houston turnovers and senior guard Khalif Battle brought them within one point by sinking two free throws with 21 seconds left in the game.

Cryer was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws to make it back to a three-point game.

Senior forward Ja’Vier Francis blocked Battle’s 3-pointer and junior guard Milos grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the Cougars. 

The Zags’ second-half comeback was largely fueled by senior forward Graham Ike, who posted 23 points in the second half.  He finished with 27 points and five rebounds.

Gonzaga entered the game as the No. 2 offense averaging 86.7 points per game and Houston ranked as the No. 1 defense in the country only allowing 57.9 points per game.

“There is about a 28-point difference between those two numbers, something is going to give,” ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli said.

Houston’s defense did not give in. The Cougars forced 11 turnovers and held Gonzaga 10 points below their season average.

Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler led the way for the defense tallying two blocks and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also scored 10 points on 55% shooting.

Overall, Houston tallied seven steals and five blocks in the game while only recording seven total turnovers.

The Cougars also dominated the glass, outrebounding Gonzaga 33-27 and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Houston started hot, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead.

The Cougars controlled the pace in the first half leading by as many as 14 points.

Battle made a 3-point jumper late in the first half to pull within six points.

Tugler hit a jumper to give the Cougars a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Cougars scored 46 points in the second half to defeat Gonzaga and advance.

Battle followed with 17 points and six rebounds.

“That’s a really good team,” Sampson said. “If they had been seeded somewhere else they would have had the chance to make the Elite 8 or even the Final 4.”

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp finished the game with 12 points, while Uzan ended with seven points and eight assists.

With the win, the Cougars improved to 32-4 on the season and have won 15 straight games.

“I’m proud of my kids and I’m glad we found a way to win a tough game,” Sampson said. “That’s what this tournament is all about, win and advance.”

Houston now will match up against No. 4 seed Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, March 28, in Indianapolis, Ind.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston advances to sixth-straight Sweet Sixteen with victory over Gonzaga” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston infielder Aaron Lugo (1) walks off home plate after striking out during an NCAA baseball game, Tuesday, March 18, 2025 in Sugar land, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball played back-to-back games against the Sam Houston State Bearcats on March 18 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.

Through a combined 20 innings of baseball, the Cougars lost each game by one run.

Sam Houston State rallied late in both games to beat the Cougars, winning on a walk-off single and an 11th-inning score.

Houston has lost five straight games, and their record is now 11-9 overall.

Bearcats defeat Houston in extra innings to win season series

Sophomore infielder Addison Smith homered in the top of the 11th inning to give Sam Houston a 4-3 lead late in the game.

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game again.

Senior infielder Hunter Autrey singled in the top of the 12th inning, and the Bearcats went up 5-4.

Houston managed to get a runner on base in the bottom of the inning, but could not score him, leading to a series loss against Sam Houston.

The Cougars recorded nine hits, leaving eight runners on base in the matchup.

The Bearcats struck first in the series’ final game with a bases-loaded walk by freshman pitcher Chris Perez in the top of the second inning.

Houston responded with a run in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly by junior infielder Carsten Sabathia III.

Autrey singled in the top of the fifth and scored freshman outfielder Sam Lee to take a 2-1 lead.

Junior infielder Tyler Cox answered with a single that scored senior infielder Aaron Lugo and tied the game 2-2.

Sophomore infielder Blake Brown hit a hard line drive to right field, scoring sophomore infielder Jace Martinez, and the Bearcats led 3-2.

McGinnis hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 3-3.

Houston’s offense had several opportunities to walk away with a victory but did not score runs when needed.

This matchup marked the first extra-inning game between the two teams since 1992.

Sophomore infielder Tre Broussard also has stolen 15 straight bases safely with two stolen bases in this game and four on the day.

Cougars drop game one on walk-off single

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez blasted a two-run homer to tie the game at 11 in the top of the eighth inning. 

Houston could not plate a run despite having two runners on in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Bearcats started strong with a double by junior catcher Ty Marthiljohni.

Later in the inning, Autrey hit a single to right field to defeat Houston 12-11.

Marthiljohni and Autrey were key players in Sam Houston’s victory, combining for six hits, six RBIs and four runs scored.

Sophomore pitcher Connor Zaruba pitched three solid innings for the Bearcats, finishing with three strikeouts, two earned runs and four hits.

Junior pitcher Danny Valadez closed the game for Sam Houston and earned the win in his one inning in relief.

Despite scoring 11 runs off of 13 hits, including four home runs, the Cougars could not come away with a victory.

Perez, Lugo, sophomore catcher Riley Jackson and junior infielder Cade Climie all homered in the game. They also combined for 11 of the team’s 13 hits.

Game one began in the fifth inning because lightning cut the game short in the original matchup in Huntsville, Texas.

Play resumed with Houston leading 9-6 in the fifth inning. The Bearcats quickly flipped the lead, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 11-9.

Despite several chances for Houston to take the lead, the Cougars’ offense failed to score runs when needed in both games.

Next, Houston takes on the UCF Knights in Orlando, Fla. The series’ first game will be on Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball loses back-to-back heartbreakers against Sam Houston State” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) drives the ball past BYU forward Mawot Mag (0) during the second half of the Big 12 Semifinals, Friday, March 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

With Houston’s commanding 74-54 victory over No. 4 seed BYU, the Cougars will play in their seventh consecutive conference championship game and face the Arizona Wildcats.

Regular season matchup

On Feb. 15, the two teams faced off for the only time this season inside the McKale Center.

Despite trailing for almost 29 minutes in the game, graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts propelled the Cougars to victory in the final minutes of the matchup.

Junior guard Milos Uzan was a game-changer for UH, finishing with 19 points on 75% shooting and five assists.

On the Arizona side, fifth-year guard Caleb Love led the team with 17 points and seven assists.

Redshirt sophomore forward Henri Veesaar shut down Houston’s forwards defensively most of the game and made his presence felt down low.

With Roberts ruled out, senior forward Ja’Vier Francis and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler will be tasked with rebounding against an aggressive Arizona team.

Arizona vs Texas Tech

Last night, in the semifinal game between Arizona and Texas Tech, the Wildcats held on to win 86-80.

Love could not miss and finished with 27 points and five made 3-pointers.

Veesaar also made his presence felt with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard K.J. Lewis made a huge impact off the bench, ending the game with 15 points, six assists and eight boards.

The Wildcats shot 50% from 3-point range and averaged 87 points per game in the tournament.

Houston’s tournament overview

The Cougar’s defense has only allowed an average of 61 points per game in the tournament.

Houston will have to rely on continuing to force tough shots and grab rebounds against an aggressive Wildcat offense.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp is coming off a season-high 26 points against BYU.

Cryer also scored 20 points and Uzan followed with 14.

With Roberts not expected to suit up for the match, Houston’s guards must step up offensively against Arizona.

The Cougars take on the Wildcats on Saturday, March 15, at 5 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“No. 1 Houston to face No. 3 Arizona in Big 12 Championship” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) drives the ball past BYU forward Mawot Mag (0) during the second half of the Big 12 Semifinals, Friday, March 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

With Houston’s commanding 74-54 victory over No. 4 seed BYU, the Cougars will play in their seventh consecutive conference championship game and face the Arizona Wildcats.

Regular season matchup

On Feb. 15, the two teams faced off for the only time this season inside the McKale Center.

Despite trailing for almost 29 minutes in the game, graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts propelled the Cougars to victory in the final minutes of the matchup.

Junior guard Milos Uzan was a game-changer for UH, finishing with 19 points on 75% shooting and five assists.

On the Arizona side, fifth-year guard Caleb Love led the team with 17 points and seven assists.

Redshirt sophomore forward Henri Veesaar shut down Houston’s forwards defensively most of the game and made his presence felt down low.

With Roberts ruled out, senior forward Ja’Vier Francis and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler will be tasked with rebounding against an aggressive Arizona team.

Arizona vs Texas Tech

Last night, in the semifinal game between Arizona and Texas Tech, the Wildcats held on to win 86-80.

Love could not miss and finished with 27 points and five made 3-pointers.

Veesaar also made his presence felt with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard K.J. Lewis made a huge impact off the bench, ending the game with 15 points, six assists and eight boards.

The Wildcats shot 50% from 3-point range and averaged 87 points per game in the tournament.

Houston’s tournament overview

The Cougar’s defense has only allowed an average of 61 points per game in the tournament.

Houston will have to rely on continuing to force tough shots and grab rebounds against an aggressive Wildcat offense.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp is coming off a season-high 26 points against BYU.

Cryer also scored 20 points and Uzan followed with 14.

With Roberts not expected to suit up for the match, Houston’s guards must step up offensively against Arizona.

The Cougars take on the Wildcats on Saturday, March 15, at 5 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“No. 1 Houston to face No. 3 Arizona in Big 12 Championship” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) drives the ball past BYU forward Mawot Mag (0) during the second half of the Big 12 Semifinals, Friday, March 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

With Houston’s commanding 74-54 victory over No. 4 seed BYU, the Cougars will play in their seventh consecutive conference championship game and face the Arizona Wildcats.

Regular season matchup

On Feb. 15, the two teams faced off for the only time this season inside the McKale Center.

Despite trailing for almost 29 minutes in the game, graduate guard L.J. Cryer and graduate forward J’Wan Roberts propelled the Cougars to victory in the final minutes of the matchup.

Junior guard Milos Uzan was a game-changer for UH, finishing with 19 points on 75% shooting and five assists.

On the Arizona side, fifth-year guard Caleb Love led the team with 17 points and seven assists.

Redshirt sophomore forward Henri Veesaar shut down Houston’s forwards defensively most of the game and made his presence felt down low.

With Roberts ruled out, senior forward Ja’Vier Francis and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler will be tasked with rebounding against an aggressive Arizona team.

Arizona vs Texas Tech

Last night, in the semifinal game between Arizona and Texas Tech, the Wildcats held on to win 86-80.

Love could not miss and finished with 27 points and five made 3-pointers.

Veesaar also made his presence felt with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard K.J. Lewis made a huge impact off the bench, ending the game with 15 points, six assists and eight boards.

The Wildcats shot 50% from 3-point range and averaged 87 points per game in the tournament.

Houston’s tournament overview

The Cougar’s defense has only allowed an average of 61 points per game in the tournament.

Houston will have to rely on continuing to force tough shots and grab rebounds against an aggressive Wildcat offense.

Redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp is coming off a season-high 26 points against BYU.

Cryer also scored 20 points and Uzan followed with 14.

With Roberts not expected to suit up for the match, Houston’s guards must step up offensively against Arizona.

The Cougars take on the Wildcats on Saturday, March 15, at 5 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“No. 1 Houston to face No. 3 Arizona in Big 12 Championship” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard L.J. Cryer looks up at the net after winning the Big 12 Conference, Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Over the past five seasons, graduate guard L.J. Cryer has mastered cutting down nets. 

Every piece of nylon removed throughout his career at both Baylor and Houston has further established him as a college basketball great.

“Since I started playing sports, I have played to win,” Cryer said. “I want people to look at me as a winner. Now that I’ve won the conference four times, I don’t think there is any other way to look at me.”

On Monday, Feb. 24, the Cougars defeated Texas Tech 69-61 to clinch a share of the 2025 Big 12 Conference title.

With the win, Cryer became the first player since the 2017-18 season to be a part of four Big 12 regular-season championship teams.

In the following game, the Cougars claimed their second straight outright Big 12 conference title with a 73-64 win on Saturday, March 1, at the Fertitta Center, and Cryer reached 1,000 career points in the red and white, a feat achieved by only 53 other Coogs.

Houston became the first team to win back-to-back titles within its first two years in a new major conference since Idaho did it in 1923.

With the victory, Cryer claimed his fourth Big 12 Conference title in his five years in the NCAA.

Cryer wins Big 12 title and NCAA National Championship

He began his college career at Baylor and played his first three seasons for the Bears.

In his first season, he made 20 appearances off the bench.

The freshman sharpshooter showed flashes of brilliance in his limited minutes, shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range.

Cryer assisted Baylor in winning the Big 12 title and an NCAA National Championship, where the Bears defeated Gonzaga 86-70.

Success through adversity

Cryer dealt with a nagging foot injury during his sophomore season, which caused him to miss 15 games.

Still, he was impressive when he was on the court, making his first career start against Stanford.

In the following game against West Virginia, Cryer set a new career best with 25 points.

To finish the 2022 season, the Bears tied with the Kansas Jayhawks with a 14-4 conference record to claim a share of the Big 12 conference title.

National recognition

In the 2023 season, the Bears fell short of three straight conference titles, finishing fourth with an 11-7 record.

However, Cryer made a considerable jump in almost every aspect of his game.

An improved jump shot and more playing time allowed Cryer to be recognized nationally.

The third-year guard also earned several accolades, including Big 12 Player of the Week twice, All-Big 12 Third Team and the 2023 NBWA All-District Team.

He averaged 13.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game and ranked third nationally with a 46.8% 3-point percentage.

A New Chapter

For the 2024 season, Cryer transferred to Houston to further develop his game.

“I knew when I got here, I would be pushed to be more of a leader and be better defensively,” Cryer said. “Now winning back-to-back Big 12 conferences, I feel like I made the right choice.”

Cryer stepped in and became Houston’s top-scoring option.

In his first year as a Cougar, he averaged 15.5 points and led the Big 12 with almost three 3-pointers made per game.

UH finished with a 15-3 conference record and claimed first place in the Big 12 in their first season.

Houston fell short of its ultimate goal of winning an NCAA National Championship, losing 54-51 to Duke in the Sweet 16.

Embracing leadership

Many players felt there was more to be accomplished at Houston and were ready to “Run it Back.”

With the loss of former guard Jamal Shead, Cryer now had a more prominent role as a player.

“L.J. had to get out of his comfort zone,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “When he stepped up and became the leader, I can’t tell you how proud I am of him.”

Cryer has been the leader Sampson needed in the 2025 season.

He is averaging 14.8 points, 2.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game and has flourished into court general.

The fifth-year guard has evolved his game and shares the point guard role with junior guard Milos Uzan, who is the primary ball handler.

With this responsibility, Cryer has distributed the ball more and has several teammates around him who are talented scorers.

Although his season average in points has slightly decreased, Cryer can flip a switch and score at will when needed.

In the matchup against No. 8 Iowa State, the team needed Cryer to step up and lead the team on one of the biggest stages of the season, with College GameDay coming to Houston.

Cryer did just that, slicing the Cyclones’  strong defense for 28 points on 64.7% shooting and making five 3-point jumpers.

He continued to shine in the victory against Cincinnati, scoring a game-high 20 points and sinking two 3-pointers to claim another outright Big 12 Conference title. 

Cryer has won the Big 12 conference in four of the five years he has competed in Division I basketball.

“The four championships show his competitiveness,” redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp said. “He has winning DNA and is a big part of this team’s success.”

The Big 12 conference is no pushover, with three teams in the top 10 of the AP Poll and five teams in the top 25.

“Winning back-to-back Big 12 conferences shows we can compete with any team in the country,” graduate forward J’Wan Roberts said.

Cryer has been a cornerstone in Houston’s success and will play a crucial role in the NCAA tournament.

His message to his teammates is simple: embrace the moment and finish the fight. 

“Keep taking pride in putting on the Houston jersey because we only have so many more games left wearing it,” Cryer said.

As his college career nears its end, the four-time Big 12 champ will need to take that same advice to lead UH to the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“From Baylor to Houston: L.J. Cryer, Four-Time Big 12 Champ” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard L.J. Cryer looks up at the net after winning the Big 12 Conference, Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Over the past five seasons, graduate guard L.J. Cryer has mastered cutting down nets. 

Every piece of nylon removed throughout his career at both Baylor and Houston has further established him as a college basketball great.

“Since I started playing sports, I have played to win,” Cryer said. “I want people to look at me as a winner. Now that I’ve won the conference four times, I don’t think there is any other way to look at me.”

On Monday, Feb. 24, the Cougars defeated Texas Tech 69-61 to clinch a share of the 2025 Big 12 Conference title.

With the win, Cryer became the first player since the 2017-18 season to be a part of four Big 12 regular-season championship teams.

In the following game, the Cougars claimed their second straight outright Big 12 conference title with a 73-64 win on Saturday, March 1, at the Fertitta Center, and Cryer reached 1,000 career points in the red and white, a feat achieved by only 53 other Coogs.

Houston became the first team to win back-to-back titles within its first two years in a new major conference since Idaho did it in 1923.

With the victory, Cryer claimed his fourth Big 12 Conference title in his five years in the NCAA.

Cryer wins Big 12 title and NCAA National Championship

He began his college career at Baylor and played his first three seasons for the Bears.

In his first season, he made 20 appearances off the bench.

The freshman sharpshooter showed flashes of brilliance in his limited minutes, shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range.

Cryer assisted Baylor in winning the Big 12 title and an NCAA National Championship, where the Bears defeated Gonzaga 86-70.

Success through adversity

Cryer dealt with a nagging foot injury during his sophomore season, which caused him to miss 15 games.

Still, he was impressive when he was on the court, making his first career start against Stanford.

In the following game against West Virginia, Cryer set a new career best with 25 points.

To finish the 2022 season, the Bears tied with the Kansas Jayhawks with a 14-4 conference record to claim a share of the Big 12 conference title.

National recognition

In the 2023 season, the Bears fell short of three straight conference titles, finishing fourth with an 11-7 record.

However, Cryer made a considerable jump in almost every aspect of his game.

An improved jump shot and more playing time allowed Cryer to be recognized nationally.

The third-year guard also earned several accolades, including Big 12 Player of the Week twice, All-Big 12 Third Team and the 2023 NBWA All-District Team.

He averaged 13.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game and ranked third nationally with a 46.8% 3-point percentage.

A New Chapter

For the 2024 season, Cryer transferred to Houston to further develop his game.

“I knew when I got here, I would be pushed to be more of a leader and be better defensively,” Cryer said. “Now winning back-to-back Big 12 conferences, I feel like I made the right choice.”

Cryer stepped in and became Houston’s top-scoring option.

In his first year as a Cougar, he averaged 15.5 points and led the Big 12 with almost three 3-pointers made per game.

UH finished with a 15-3 conference record and claimed first place in the Big 12 in their first season.

Houston fell short of its ultimate goal of winning an NCAA National Championship, losing 54-51 to Duke in the Sweet 16.

Embracing leadership

Many players felt there was more to be accomplished at Houston and were ready to “Run it Back.”

With the loss of former guard Jamal Shead, Cryer now had a more prominent role as a player.

“L.J. had to get out of his comfort zone,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “When he stepped up and became the leader, I can’t tell you how proud I am of him.”

Cryer has been the leader Sampson needed in the 2025 season.

He is averaging 14.8 points, 2.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game and has flourished into court general.

The fifth-year guard has evolved his game and shares the point guard role with junior guard Milos Uzan, who is the primary ball handler.

With this responsibility, Cryer has distributed the ball more and has several teammates around him who are talented scorers.

Although his season average in points has slightly decreased, Cryer can flip a switch and score at will when needed.

In the matchup against No. 8 Iowa State, the team needed Cryer to step up and lead the team on one of the biggest stages of the season, with College GameDay coming to Houston.

Cryer did just that, slicing the Cyclones’  strong defense for 28 points on 64.7% shooting and making five 3-point jumpers.

He continued to shine in the victory against Cincinnati, scoring a game-high 20 points and sinking two 3-pointers to claim another outright Big 12 Conference title. 

Cryer has won the Big 12 conference in four of the five years he has competed in Division I basketball.

“The four championships show his competitiveness,” redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp said. “He has winning DNA and is a big part of this team’s success.”

The Big 12 conference is no pushover, with three teams in the top 10 of the AP Poll and five teams in the top 25.

“Winning back-to-back Big 12 conferences shows we can compete with any team in the country,” graduate forward J’Wan Roberts said.

Cryer has been a cornerstone in Houston’s success and will play a crucial role in the NCAA tournament.

His message to his teammates is simple: embrace the moment and finish the fight. 

“Keep taking pride in putting on the Houston jersey because we only have so many more games left wearing it,” Cryer said.

As his college career nears its end, the four-time Big 12 champ will need to take that same advice to lead UH to the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“From Baylor to Houston: L.J. Cryer, Four-Time Big 12 Champ” was originally posted on The Cougar