LJ Cryer scores 23 in Houston's gritty 66-60 road win at Xavier

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POSTED: December 1, 2023 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

CINCINNATI, OH -- (Cintas Center)

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team "found a way to win" Friday night. In Houston's first true road game of the season, the Coogs defeated the Xavier Musketeers 66-60 in a match-up billed as part of the 2023 "BIG EAST - Big 12 Battle" featuring teams from the top 2 conferences in men's college hoops.

Houston guard LJ Cryer scored a game-high 23 points. Cryer made his first 3 three-point shots as Houston jumped to a 16-4 lead 5 minutes into the ball game.

Xavier recovered from Houston's hot start as Cryer didn't take another field goal attempt for 7 minutes. The Musketeers (4-4) took a 25-24 lead on 2 made free throws from sophomore Desmond Claude. Quincy Olivari, former Rice Owls guard, led the comeback with 3 three-point buckets to key Xavier's run.

Olivari finished the first half with 11 points on 4 for 8 field goal shooting (3 for 5 threes).

After Xavier took the 25-24 lead, Cryer hit another three-pointer before backcourt mate Jamal Shead scored a driving layup to push Houston's lead to 29-25 with 4 plus minutes left in the first half.

The Musketeers cut the Coogs' lead to 1 point two times in the closing moments; but, Houston sophomore Terrance Arceneaux scored in a driving basket to cap the first half scoring and put Houston up 5 (36-31) at halftime.

Houston shot 40.0 fg% (14 for 35) in the first half while Xavier shot 36.4 fg% (12 for 33). Xavier outrebounded Houston 25-17 in the first half; however, Houston outscored Xavier 11-4 in second chance points. Xavier outscored Houston 13-0 in fast break points in the first 20 minutes.

The Coogs blitzed Xavier with a 10-0 spurt to start the second half and led 46-33 with 16:16 to go in the game. Cryer scored 5 points during the run.

"Houston does that to a lot of teams. It's part of their identity," Xavier Head Coach Sean Miller said after the game of Houston's outscoring Xavier 22-6 in the first 4 minutes of each half.

Jamal Shead picked up his third and fourth foul in a span of two minutes. Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was whistled for a technical foul after Shead's fourth foul. Shead headed to the bench with 13:46 on the clock and Houston ahead 46-39.

With Shead on the bench, Houston struggled to make field goals. Houston's field goal drought and foul trouble helped Xavier tie the game at 49. With 7:48 on the clock, LJ Cryer made a jumper to break the tie. Cryer's bucket was Houston's first made field goal since the 16:16 mark.

Desmond Claude split 2 free throws on one possession before make 2 foul shots the next possession to put Xavier ahead 52-51 with 6:57 to go in the game.

Houston guard Emanuel Sharp was fouled on a drive to the hoop. Sharp made both free throws for a 53-52 Houston lead. Neither team scored for 90 seconds. Jamal Shead returned to the game and rebounded a miss by Sharp and was fouled. Shead made both free throws for a 55-52 Houston lead.

Sharp stole a pass in the paint which resulted in Damian Dunn getting fouled. Dunn drained both foul shots for a 5 point lead (57-52) with 3:30 left in the game.

Xavier didn't get closer than 3 points the rest of the game.

After a 3 for 8 start at the foul line, Houston made 11 of 13 free throws in the final minutes to get the road win.

"The best thing about tonight is we found a way to win," Coach Sampson said after the game.

Houston's next game is Wednesday, December 6, versus the Rice Owls. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT.

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