Kansas Jayhawks' Sensational Shooting Tops Houston, 78-65

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UPDATED: February 4, 2024 -- 12:00 p.m. CT

POSTED: February 3, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

LAWRENCE, KS -- Allen Fieldhouse

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team lost 78-65 to the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday afternoon in a top 10 matchup. The Jayhawks shot 68.9 fg% (31 for 45) for the game.

"We weren't very good defensively," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said after the game. "And, they were very good offensively."

KU's 68.9 field goal percentage is the highest percentage against Houston this season. Kansas (18-4 overall, 6-3 in Big 12) had a 60 fg% three-times this season prior to Saturday's game: 69.6 fg% against North Carolina Central (11/6/23); 60.0 fg% against Chaminade (11/20/23); and 62.1 fg% against Oklahoma State (1/16/24).

Houston (19-3, 6-3) scored the first 2 points of the game on a basket by forward J'Wan Roberts. The score was tied at 4; then, Kansas' 2 All-Americans -- center Hunter Dickinson (4) and wing Kevin McCullar Jr (3) combined for 7 points to take an 11-4 lead. Kansas made 9 of its first 10 shots and led 23-11 with 11:37 remaining in the first half.

Despite missing 5 shot attempts in the first 7 minutes of the first half, Houston did not get its first offensive rebound until 12:35 was on the clock. The Jayhawks dominated Houston on the boards.

Houston trailed 24-15 when point guard Jamal Shead missed a layup in transition. Kansas scored the next 6 points to lead 30-15. Houston responded with back-to-back threes from Emanuel Sharp and LJ Cryer. However, Kansas freshman Johnny Furphy scored 7 straight points to increase Houston's deficit to 37-21.

Furphy was sensational in the first half. He scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half on perfect 5-for-5 field goal shooting; and, he grabbed 5 rebounds.

Houston trailed Kansas 43-28 at halftime. Kansas shot 68 fg% (17 for 25) in the opening 20 minutes AND out-rebounded Houston 24-10. Kansas had 12 assists in the first half and scored 6 layups and 3 dunks for part of their 17 made field goals.

Kansas scored 1.344 points per possession in the first half compared to Houston's 0.875 points per possession.

Houston trailed 58-38 with 12:23 to go in the second half.

LJ Cryer heated up with 18 of Houston's 20 points during a 20-10 run which cut the Coogs' deficit to 10 (68-58) with 5:03 to go in the game. However, Kansas scored 6 of the next 7 points to up its lead to 74-59 with 3:26 on the clock.

Houston freshman big man JoJo Tugler got a dunk and a layup to bring Houston within 11; but, the Coogs did not get any closer than 11 the final 2 minutes of the game.

Tugler finished the game with 8 points and 8 rebounds.

Cryer scored a game-high 24 points on 9 for 20 shooting -- 6 for 12 threes.

J'Wan Roberts grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Roberts and Tugler combined for 21 of Houston's 24 rebounds. No other Coogs had more than 1 rebound in the game.

Kansas out-rebounded Houston 40-24 and outscored Houston 42-24 in the paint.

NEXT: Houston's next game is Tuesday, February 6, at home, against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Tip is set for 6 pm CT on ESPN2.

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