Houston Cougars Overpower Arizona State in Convincing Victory

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — L.J. Cryer scored 18 points, and Emanuel Sharp contributed 17 as No. 5 Houston defeated Arizona State 80-65 on Tuesday night. The Cougars improved their record to 22-4 overall and 14-1 in the Big 12, while rising one spot in the latest AP rankings.

Houston had a much easier time in this contest compared to their previous match against No. 19 Arizona, where they ground out a close 62-58 win. Against the Sun Devils, the Cougars built a 16-point halftime lead and extended it to as much as 23 points.

The victory marks Houston’s 18th win in their last 19 games, and they currently hold the nation’s longest active road winning streak at 12 games. Head coach Kelvin Sampson praised his team’s performance: “We executed our game plan effectively tonight and made it hard for Arizona State to find their rhythm.”

Arizona State struggled throughout the game, managing to shoot only 3-for-12 from three-point range and committing seven turnovers that led to 15 points for Houston. Alston Mason was the standout performer for the Sun Devils, scoring 26 points, while B.J. Freeman added 17 points. However, the team faced its seventh consecutive defeat and has yet to find answers amid their recent struggles.

Houston started strong, hitting 15 of 28 shots in the first half, leading 47-31 at halftime. They continued their offensive surge into the second half with a 7-0 run, pushing their lead to 23 points. Even a late 11-0 run by Arizona State could not sway the outcome. Sharp hit four of seven three-pointers after being scoreless against Arizona, showcasing Houston’s depth.

The Cougars will return home to host No. 8 Iowa State on Saturday, while Arizona State will visit Kansas State on Sunday. The game highlighted Houston’s dominance as they continue to chase a top seed in the NCAA tournament.