Coogs lose to Kentucky by 4 in Sweet 16

The Saxenian Family

POSTED: March 30, 2019 -- 12:33 a.m. CDT

KANSAS CITY, MO (Sprint Center) -- The Houston Cougars went toe-to-toe with the Kentucky Wildcats Friday night in the second Midwest Region semifinal game. Despite a great comeback, Houston lost to Kentucky 62-58. Houston's season ends with a stellar 33-4 record.

Houston erased a 37-26 halftime deficit and rode junior guard Armoni Brooks' hot three-point shooting to lead 58-55 with 76 seconds left in the game. Kentucky scored the final 7 points of the ball game.

Kentucky sophomore PJ Washington was the difference maker in the game. Washington scored 16 points in 26 minutes off the bench and delivered a huge blocked shot in the final minute which led to the go-ahead three-point shot by teammate Tyler Herro.

"I think that was when PJ blocked my shot, I believe," Houston senior guard Corey Davis Jr said. "He got to it. They got in transition. They made two of our guys converge on one and Herro was wide open for the 3. Even though it was heavily contested. You give a good shooter that type of shot, nine times out of ten he'll make it. He was very confident in his stroke."

"But make no question about it, their best player is number 25 (Washington)," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said after the game. "He's their best player. He's the only one that we didn't have an answer for."

Houston trailed 60-58 with 25.8 seconds remaining in the game. After a timeout, Davis received the ball and drove baseline. Davis lofted a runner but the shot bounced off the front of the rim. Kentucky got the rebound. Houston was forced to foul; and, Herro sank two foul shots to close out the scoring.

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The Saxenian Family

"I'm taking it heavy considering I had to two chances to help my team win a game and kind of came up short," Davis lamented. "I'm taking it as heavy as you can take it. I mean. But at the end of the day, I'm grateful. Coach Sampson gave me an opportunity to live a dream I've always wanted to live. We're all going to be emotional at this time. We'll take what we learned from Coach Sampson throughout all the years and keep growing as men and basketball players."

Davis scored 14 points in the game; but, he made 5 of 16 field goal attempts including 1 for 7 three-point attempts.

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Armoni Brooks scored a game-high 20 points. Brooks drained five three-pointers in the second half and finished the game 6 for 12 on threes. He carried Houston's offense at times in the second half.

Kentucky finished the game with a 36-23 rebounding advantage. The Wildcats (30-6) dominated the boards for most of the game; however, when Houston did pull down a few rebounds, Houston was able to capitalize in transition or in the half court.

"Once we started offensive rebounding," Sampson said. "We -- we usually don't take offensive rebounds back to the rim, we usual kick them out. Call those daggers. When we were daggering the rebounds, Armoni got some looks."

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The Saxenian Family

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"Their length bothered us at times; but, you know, after awhile we figured -- we figured some things out and came back and put ourselves in position to win," Sampson remarked. "That's a credit to these kids."

Houston's tremendously successful 2018-'19 season ends in the regional semifinals. Houston had not reached the Sweet 16 since 1984. This loss ends the collegiate careers of Houston seniors Breaon Brady, Corey Davis Jr, Landon Goesling, and Galen Robinson Jr. The bond this team had will not be forgotten.

"We built something that will last a lifetime," Davis said. "Outside of all the basketball stuff, all the things we've been through together builds so many memories we can take outside of this. I know we won't be able the play with each other ever again; but, at the same time, we've made so many great memories and we just created so many great bonds. Something you can't take away from us."

Armoni Brooks added, "We all love each other on and off the floor and just, you know, having this be the last game that we'll be play all on the same court together, it really hurts. We were really looking forward to getting back to practice and being able to be around each other some more.

"But, you know, we still -- we'll all keep in contact with each other. This is a brotherhood we built for life. These are memories we'll cherish forever."

Coach Sampson summed up his feelings about this year's team: "But you know, going to the Elite 8 would be great, but what would mean more to me would be a chance to coach this group of kids again. That's what I was looking for, another film session, another practice, another game. Just keep playing as long as we could play.

"You know, sometime in coaching you just get blessed with a great group of kids. I mean a great, great group of kids. It's such a blessing and an honor for me to coach these kids this season; and, I say thank you to them for letting me go along on the ride, especially Corey and Galen and Breaon and Landon.

"So, tough one to lose, but hats off to Cal (Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari) and his kids."

CLICK HERE for The HRR's write-ups of Coogs' men's hoops games.