5th-ranked Houston with 69-61 road win over 2nd-ranked Virginia

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POSTED: December 17, 2022 -- 5:08 p.m. CT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- (John Paul Jones Arena)

The 5th-ranked Houston Cougars earned a solid 69-61 road win over the 2nd-ranked Virginia Cavaliers Saturday afternoon. Houston freshman forward Jarace Walker led a balanced Houston offense with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Houston's entire starting lineup scored in double-figures. Houston senior Marcus Sasser and wing Tramon Mark each scored 13. Junior guard Jamal Shead added 11 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Forward J'Wan Roberts added 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Houston trailed Virginia 9-0 before J'Wan Roberts scored a layup to start a 7-0 Houston run. Virginia sank back-to-back three-pointers to lead 15-7. Roberts scored 6 of Houston's 9 points during a 9-0 to put Houston ahead 16-15. Marcus Sasser hit two three-pointers during a 10-4 stretch as the Coogs increased the lead to 26-19.

The Coogs led 30-26 at halftime.

Virginia inched within 3 (33-30) before Jamal Shead sank a pull-up jumper; Jarace Walker hit a 3; and Marcus Sasser scored a driving layup to give the Coogs a 40-30 lead with 16:06 on the game clock.

Houston led by as much as 11 points twice in the second half and led by 10 (54-44) after Jarace Walker hit a 3-pointer with 4:38 remaining in the game. After Virginia forward Jayden Gardner sank 2 foul shots; Cavaliers' point Kihei Clark stole the ball from Jamal Shead near midcourt and scored a layup to cut Houston's lead to 54-48 with 4:06 remaining in the contest.

Virginia (8-1) trailed 56-50 with 2:50 left in the game when Jarace Walker dished to an open Tramon Mark. Mark made the three-point shot to stretch Houston's lead to 59-50 with 2:30 on the clock. Next, Walker sank a tough, tough step back jumper for a 61-50 Houston lead with 1:42 remaining.

The Coogs went a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 102 seconds to seal the victory.

Houston (11-1) won the rebounding battle 30-26. Both teams scored 26 points in the paint.

NEXT: The Coogs' next game is Wednesday, December 21, at home, against the McNeese Cowboys. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

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