Coogs lose 68-67 at TCU on layup with 6 seconds remaining

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POSTED: January 13, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

FORT WORTH, TX -- (Schollmaier Coliseum)

The Houston Cougars lost 68-67 to the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday evening on the road. TCU's Emanuel Miller scored a layup with 6.3 seconds remaining for the final points in the game. Houston had a chance to win the game but Damian Dunn lost the ball in the frontcourt as time expired.

After Miller's layup, Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson did not call timeout and allow TCU to set up its defense. After the game, Coach Sampson said he wanted Houston senior point guard Jamal Shead to have the ball in the closing seconds.

Shead inbounded the ball to Dunn. Shead never got the ball back.

"I didn't want to call timeout; but, not in a million years did I think we were not going to throw it back to Jamal," Coach Sampson said after the game.

Dunn's turnover followed his lapse on defense which allowed Miller to cut baseline and be open to catch the pass from teammate Avery Anderson III for the game-winning layup. Dunn's moments in the closing seconds overshadow but not erase the 17 points (5 for 8 fgs; 6 for 8 fts); 4 rebounds; and 3 assists he had in Saturday's game.

Houston (14-2 overall, 1-2 in Big 12) led 67-66 with senior forward J'Wan Roberts at the free throw line for a 1-and-1 opportunity. Roberts was at the line after his hustle led to an offensive rebound of a miss by teammate LJ Cryer. Roberts went to the line and missed the first foul shot.

TCU's Micah Peavy rebounded Roberts' miss to set up TCU's final play.

Prior to his missed free throw, Roberts scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. His heart and hustle brought Houston back from a 59-54 deficit with 5:47 remaining to a 62-59 lead with 4:22 left in the ball game.

Houston's defense was great the first 11 plus minutes of the game. Even with Shead on the bench with 2 early fouls, the Coogs led the Horned Frogs 23-11 and had limited TCU to 1 made field goal for nearly 6 minutes. However, then Houston began to foul. And, foul a lot.

TCU attempted 20 free throws in the first half (made 13) as a result of 15 Houston fouls. TCU only made 6 field goals in the first half (2 for 11 on twos and 4 for 11 on threes).

Houston clung to a 31-29 lead at halftime as TCU finished the half outscoring Houston 18-8 in the last 8 minutes.

TCU (13-3, 2-1) carved up Houston's defense early in the second half. The Horned Frogs had 7 layups, 1 dunk, and 1 three out of their first 13 attempts. Houston trailed 48-41 with 12:57 to go in the 2nd half before 4 quick points.

The game settled down the next few minutes before Houston's 8-0 run turned a 59-54 deficit into a 62-59 lead with 4:22 remaining.

LJ Cryer's struggled to make shots for the second consecutive game. Cryer made 2 for 14 field goal attempts (1 for 7 on twos and 1 for 7 on threes).

Houston outscored TCU 40-28 in the paint; 13-7 points off turnovers; and 13-9 in second chance points.

Houston made only 4 of 18 three-point shots while TCU made 8 of 15 threes.

"I really like my team. We came in here with a really good team; and, we're leaving with a really good team. I like my team."

Houston's next game is Wednesday, January 17, at home, against Texas Tech. Tip is scheduled for 8 pm CT on ESPNU.

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