LJ Cryer's 23 points helps Houston top BYU and pick up first Big 12 road win

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POSTED: January 23, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

PROVO, UT -- (Marriott Center)

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team defeated the BYU Cougars 75-68 Tuesday night in Provo, UT. Tuesday night's win is Houston's first Big 12 road win. Houston guard LJ Cryer scored a game-high 23 points to help Houston win the battle of the Cougars.

Cryer made 5 of his 9 three-point shots and was 7 for 14 overall from the floor.

"Cryer, he's the best three-point shooter on the team," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said during the postgame press conference.

"It means a lot to have that confidence from your head coach," Cryer said after the game.

BYU big man Aly Khalifa made a three-pointer to start the scoring. Houston (17-2 overall, 4-2 in Big 12) answered with 6 straight points in the paint; then, Khalifa banked in another 3 to tie the game at 6.

Jaxson Robinson hit BYU's third 3 to go on top 9-6. The first half featured good shooting by both teams: Houston made 16 of 32 (50 fg%) from the floor including 6 for 12 (50 3pt%) from three while BYU made 14 of 29 (48.3 fg%). BYU made 4 of its first 10 three-point tries before cooling off and making just 2 of 8 threes to end the first half.

Houston's next game is Saturday, January 27, at home, against Kansas State. Tip is scheduled for 11 am CT on ESPN.

The first half featured 4 ties. Khalifa scored a layup to break a 30-30 tie; but, Houston's Jamal Shead hit a 3 for a 33-32 Houston lead with 3:33 to go in the first half.

Shead and Cryer each scored 5 points as Houston outscored BYU 11-4 in the final 5:10 to lead 41-34 at halftime.

Cryer hit a three-pointer to start the second half scoring and increase Houston's lead to 10 (44-34). Emanuel Sharp connected on 2 free throws to stretch the lead to 12.

BYU (14-5, 2-4) responded with a 9-0 run in 69 seconds.

Noah Waterman hit a three then teammate Trevin Knell made all 3 foul shots (after Sharp fouled him on a three-point attempt) and a three-point bucket in transition.

Leading 46-43, Houston answered BYU's 9-0 run with a 10-0 run. Damian Dunn scored 4 points during the run and Cryer and freshman big JoJo Tugler each scored 3.

Houston led 59-46 with 11:15 on the clock; however, Waterman scored 6 straight points and Knee made another jumper to trim Houston's lead to 5 (59-54). BYU's run continued with back-to-back layups.

Houston led 68-63 with 4:13 on the clock before BYU big man Fousseyni Traore scored a tough layup and Waterman nailed another three-pointer to tie the game at 68 with 2:15 remaining.Neither team scored until Houston veteran forward J'Wan Roberts split 1 of 2 free throws for a 69-68 lead with 61 seconds left in the ball game.

Trevin Knell missed a wide-open three at the top of the key. Emanuel Sharp was fouled with 41 seconds to go in the game. Sharp made both foul shots to extend Houston's lead to 71-68.

Richie Saunders missed a corner 3. Jamal Shead grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Shead made his 2 free throws; and, after Dallin Hall missed a three-point attempt, LJ Cryer sealed the victory with 2 more made free throws with 16 seconds on the clock.

BYU made 11 of 38 three-point shots and 14 of 21 two-point shots.

Houston shot 10 for 23 from 3 and 14 for 36 from 2.

Houston outscored BYU 17-7 in points off turnovers and 15-7 in second chance points.

BYU outscored Houston 13-7 in fast break points; 28-22 in the paint; and 24-16 in bench points.

In addition to Cryer's team-high 16 points, Jamal Shead scored 16 points and Damian Dunn scored 10. Emanuel Sharp led Houston with 9 rebounds.

"We won at Xavier; beaten Utah and Texas A&M; but, we hadn't won a Big 12 game on the road," Coach Sampson said. "And, at some point, if you're going to make noise, you've got to break through and do that. And, we're to be able to do that tonight."

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