Emanuel Sharp delivers in final 30 seconds to help Houston hold off Aggies in 70-66 win

Buy Houston Cougars Gear at Fanatics.com

POSTED: December 16, 2023 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- (Toyota Center)

In an exciting, down-to-the-wire ball game, the 3rd / 4th-ranked Houston Cougars men's basketball team defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 70-66 in front of an announced crowd of 12,152 fans gathered inside Toyota Center.

Texas A&M erased a 21-point deficit (53-32) to tie the game at 63 with 90 seconds remaining.

Wade Taylor IV led the Aggies' remarkable comeback. Taylor scored 21 of the Aggies' 31 points to tie Houston at 63. Taylor made 5 three-point shots (many of them were well-defended); 4 of 5 free throw attempts; and a driving layup during his sensational scoring run.

Houston (11-0) led 63-60 with 90 seconds to go in the game when Houston big man Ja'Vier Francis caught a great pass from point guard Jamal Shead; however, Francis shuffled his feet and committed a traveling violation before his dunk.

Taylor IV splashed his fifth three-pointer to tie the game at 63. Houston called timeout with 84 seconds remaining.

After the timeout, Shead drove baseline and dished to Francis in the paint. Francis did not travel this time and dunked for a 65-63 Houston lead.

Taylor IV missed a driving layup on the Aggies' next possession. Shead grabbed the miss and dribbled down the court before dishing to an Sharp. Sharp swished the 3 to stretch Houston's lead to 5 (68-63) with 29 seconds on the clock.

"When we get in situations in the game like that, of where I'm open and have a chance to take a shot like that, I don't have any hesitation taking it because I've worked a lot", Sharp said after the game. "I have a lot of confidence that I can make those shots."

Texas A&M (7-4) called timeout. After the timeout, Shead gambled to deflect, steal the inbounds pass to Taylor IV. However, Shead's gamble didn't pay off; and Taylor made another contested three-pointer to cut Houston's lead to 68-66 with 21 seconds left in the game.

The Aggies were forced to foul Houston twice before reaching 7 team fouls. However, on the 5th-team foul, Houston was attempting to inbound the ball when veteran player Damian Dunn traveled which gave the ball back to the Aggies.

"Our kid knows that you can't move your pivot foot on a spot throw-in," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said of Dunn's mental gaffe.

After Dunn's mistake, Taylor IV missed a game-tying three-point attempt. Aggies' big man Henry Coleman III pulled down the miss and was fouled by J'Wan Roberts. Coleman III missed both free throws. Roberts rebounded the second miss.

The Aggies had to foul commit 2 fouls in the final 5 seconds before Houston got into the 1-and-1. Sharp was fouled on the 7th team foul and calmly. Sharp made both foul shots to clinch the win for Houston.

"Down the stretch, I just didn't like the way we played," Coach Sampson acknowledged. "We made some mistakes that you got to correct; and, we will."

NOTE: Houston sophomore forward Terrance Arceneaux injured his right leg in the first half of the game and was helped to the locker room. After the game, Coach Sampson said Arceneaux tore his right Achilles and will be out the rest of the season.

Houston's next game is Thursday, December 21, versus Texas State. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

SUPPORT The Houston Roundball Review:

Purchase your Coogs' gear at Fanatics.com via this link;

Get ESPN+ via this link;

Save when you get the Disney bundle (ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu) with this link;

OR, contribute via PayPal or the Cash App.

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