Houston Advances to Final Four with Record-Breaking Win over Tennessee

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Houston Cougars secured their place in the Final Four with a commanding 69-50 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers on March 30, 2025. This win marks Houston’s second Final Four appearance in five seasons, once again showcasing their formidable defensive prowess.

The Cougars’ defense limited Tennessee to just 15 points in the first half, setting a new NCAA Tournament record for the fewest points allowed in a half against a top-two seed. Houston’s star point guard, L.J. Cryer, and Emmanuel Sharp led the scoring for the Cougars, each finishing with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

“We focused on heart and effort, not just our playbook,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Our guys showed up ready to fight.”

Although Tennessee attempted a late-game comeback, hitting a couple of late three-pointers, it was not enough to overcome the 22-point lead established by Houston early in the second half. The Cougars excelled not only in defense but also in rebounding, dominating the boards 42-35 and outscoring the Volunteers in the paint 30-14.

Cryer, who added seven rebounds and four assists to his scoring total, emphasized the importance of team effort in their victory. “We pushed each other and stayed disciplined,” he said. “That’s what got us here.”

The Cougars are now set to face the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four, a rematch from last year’s Sweet 16 where the No. 4 seed Duke upset Houston 54-51. This time, Houston seeks redemption, especially after losing star guard Jamal Shead to injury in that previous matchup.

With today’s win, Houston has recorded a remarkable 34 victories this season, breaking their previous record of 33 wins set in 2018-19 and 2022-23. As they head into the Final Four, Houston becomes the first No. 1 seed to face the highest-seeded team possible in each of their NCAA Tournament games since the national champion North Carolina in 2017.

Tennessee’s loss means the Volunteers are still in search of their first-ever Final Four appearance, a statistic that remains notable as the team has recorded 31 NCAA Tournament victories, currently the most among teams yet to reach the Final Four.

“Disappointing, but we’ll grow from this,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said post-game. “This experience can motivate our team for the future.”

The Final Four matchup will take place on Saturday, with CBS airing the games. Houston is part of a rare occurrence where three No. 1 seeds have advanced to this stage of the tournament, adding to the intense competition as they vie for a shot at the national title.