LJ Cryer's 25 points helps Houston defeat UCF, 67-59, and clinch share of Big 12 regular season title

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POSTED: March 6, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

ORLANDO, FL -- Addition Financial Arena

The Houston Cougars defeated the UCF Knights 67-59 Wednesday night and improve to 27-3 overall and 14-3 in the Big 12 Conference. With the win, Houston clinches a share of the Big 12 regular season title in its first season in the Big 12 Conference.

Houston guard LJ Cryer scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half as, once again, Houston found a way to win.

"We've had our share of injuries and adversity; but, what we still have is our DNA," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach, said after the game. "I think this is our sixth consecutive year of winning a championship. That's where the DNA comes from."

Houston struggled to make shots in the first half. The Coogs had to grind just to finish the half at 37.5 fg% (12 for 32). Cryer made 2 of his 6 three-point attempts in the half. His 2 made threes were the only three-point shots the Coogs made (2 for 11) in the first 20 minutes.

In spite of Houston's poor shooting and UCF's 50.0 fg% (11 for 22), Houston trailed UCF by just 3 (31-28) at halftime. Houston took advantage of UCF's 9 first-half turnovers to outscore the Knights 9-2 in points off turnovers. Plus, as part of Houston's DNA, the Coogs pulled down 9 offensive rebounds and outscored the Knights 11-4 in second chance points.

Houston senior forward, J'Wan Roberts, scored 10 points (5 for 7 fgs) in the first half. Roberts, left-handed, battled through a very painful injured right-hand.

"J'Wan, who's the ultimate warrior," Coach Sampson said. "He's still playing with one hand. He's got seven stitches in the web of his right hand. Just split his web; and, it's really, really sore."

UCF scored the first 4 points in the second half to increase its lead to 35-28.

"Our transition defense took a sabbatical there the first two or three minutes of the half," Coach Sampson commented. "But, once we tightened our screws up, we know how to run our offense to the guy that's making shots."

LJ Cryer was that guy in the second half. Cryer sank a three for Houston's first second half points. After UCF's Jaylin Sellers scored a fast break layup, Roberts and Cryer each scored a layup to cut Houston's deficit to just 2 (37-35) with 16:09 on the game clock.

With 13:44 on the clock, Houston trailed 41-38 and starting center Ja'Vier Francis rolled his right ankle and limped to the bench. At the time of his injury, Francis was not having much of a positive impact on the game.

Francis walked to Houston's locker room to get looked at by the team's trainer; and, he returned to the game moments later. He was a different player upon his return.

Francis got a dunk; a blocked a shot; and a put back dunk to tie the game at 42 with 12:40 on the clock.

"At halftime, I got on Jamal and J'Wan about the way Ja'Vier played," Coach Sampson said. 'What do you want me to do scream and fuss and cuss at him. Why don't you do it? He's your teammate. You hold him accountable.'

"And they did; and, he responded."

Francis finished the game with 10 points and 8 rebounds (6 points and 6 boards in the second half) plus 2 blocked shots.

At the 12-minute mark, Jamal Shead put Houston ahead 45-42 with his first three-point basket of the game.

Houston had 1 point (47-46) lead with 10:39 on the clock when LJ Cryer heated up. Cryer sank back-to-back jumpers for push Houston's lead to 5. Shead split 2 free throws then swished another three-pointer for a 55-46 Houston lead with 6 plus minutes remaining in the game. Then, Cryer hit 2 three-pointers and game-clinching fall away jumper in the paint with 81 seconds to go.

Cryer made his last 5 shot attempts to help seal Houston's victory. Houston outscored UCF 22-4 in points off turnovers and 20-10 in second chance points.

Jamal Shead finished the game with 16 points and 8 rebounds. J'Wan Roberts added 12 points and 7 boards.

"What we've been really good at, for a long, long time is we know how to win the game," Coach Sampson acknowledged. "Some nights, we play great and we're probably not nearly as good as people think we are.

"And, then, some nights we don't play very good and you're trying to figure out how they ever win a game. But, the two things that those things have in common is we win both ways; and, that's important to be able to do that."

NEXT: Houston's next game is Saturday, March 9, at home, on Senior Day, against the Kansas Jayhawks. Tip is set for 3 pm CT on ESPN.

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