Emanuel Sharp's 14 points leads top-seed Houston in 60-45 win over TCU in Big 12 quarterfinal game

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POSTED: March 14, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

KANSAS CITY, MO -- T-Mobile Center

The Houston Cougars topped the TCU Horned Frogs 60-45 Thursday afternoon in Quarterfinal number 2 of the 2024 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship.

Houston improved to 29-3 with the win. The Coogs jumped out to a 16-0 lead and never looked back. TCU struggled to make any type of shot -- inside and outside. The Horned Frogs missed their first 16 shot attempts. In fact, at the 10:20 mark, when Micah Peavy scored a put back layup, the crowd gave TCU a Bronx cheer for finally scoring.

TCU dominated Houston on the offensive boards throughout the game; but, TCU struggled mightily putting the ball into the basket.

In the first half, TCU out-rebounded Houston 29-18 including 18-4 on the offensive glass. However, TCU only scored 10 second-chance points.

The Horned Frogs missed all 7 of their three-point attempts in the first half and made just 7 of 30 two-point attempts. TCU shot an icy 18.9 fg% (7 for 37) in the first half.

Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was not pleased the with his team's rebounding in the first half.

"I'm disappointed in our block outs," Coach Sampson said to ESPN's Kris Budden at halftime.

Houston led TCU 31-15 at halftime.

The Coogs removed any hint of a TCU comeback with 13-6 spurt to lead 44-21 6 minutes into the second half.

Houston's lead hovered between 17 and 21 the next 10 minutes. TCU didn't get within 15 points until scoring the final 2 points of the game with 60 seconds remaining the ball game.

TCU finished the game with 55-39 rebounding edge including a whopping 30-9 on the offensive boards. However, TCU missed 25 of 36 layup attempts. Houston finished the game with 9 blocked shots.

Houston forward J'Wan Roberts pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds while Coogs' starting center Ja'Vier Francis grabbed 9 boards. Roberts and Francis both blocked 2 shots in the game.

Jamal Shead, Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, finished the game with 12 points, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 1 blocked shot.

Emanuel Sharp scored a game-high 14 points.

It wasn't pretty; but, it was another Houston victory.

NEXT: Houston's next game is Friday, March 15, in the semifinals of the 2024 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship.

Houston will face 4-seed Texas Tech. Tip is set for 6 pm CT on ESPN2.

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