Houston Cougars Rout BYU, 86-55

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POSTED: January 5, 2025 -- 11:35 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- Fertitta Center

The Houston Cougars defeated the BYU Cougars 86-55 Saturday afternoon in front of a sold out Fertitta Center crowd. Houston improves to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. With the loss, BYU is also 10-3 overall but 1-1 in the Big 12.

Houston's Emanuel Sharp scored a game-high 18 points in just 20 minutes of action. Houston's defense disrupted BYU's offense early in the game. BYU committed six turnovers in the first 7 plus minutes of the game.

"That part of it (the turnovers) was frustrating for me," Kevin Young, BYU Men's Basketball Head Coach, said after the game. "Because, obviously, that was one of the big points of emphasis for us."

Houston led 16-6 eight minutes into the game. Houston's lead increased to 13 (26-13) after graduate guard LJ Cryer made a step back three-point shot.

BYU trimmed Houston's lead to 9 (28-19) with 4:02 remaining in the opening half; however, Houston outscored BYU 9-3 to lead 37-22 at halftime.

Houston made 5 of 16 three-point attempts in the first half.

The second half was a much different story.

Emanuel Sharp made 2 threes to negate three-point baskets from BYU's Dallin Hall and Richie Saunders.

Then, LJ Cryer nailed two more three-point baskets sandwiched around a Milos Uzan three-point bucket from the top of the key. Houston made 5 of 6 threes in the first 7 minutes of the second half.

However, Houston was just warming up: Terrance Arceneaux hit a 3 before Sharp nailed his 4th triple of the game. Two minutes later, Arceneaux drained his 4th three of the game before teammate Mylik Wilson made two threes.

Houston made 11 threes in the second half on 18 attempts. Houston finished the game with 16 made threes on 34 attempts (47.1 3pt%).

"I'd be surprised if they hit more than 16 threes in a game the rest of the year," Coach Young remarked during his postgame press conference.

Arceneaux (15 points) and Wilson (12 points) combined for 27 of Houston's 41 bench points. Houston won the bench battle 41-24.

Houston outscored BYU 24-5 in points off turnovers; 18-7 in second chance points; 13-4 in fast break points; and 24-18 in points in the paint. Houston also out-rebounded BYU 37-24.

"Some days the ball goes in, some days they do not," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars Men's Basketball Head Coach said after the game. "And, when it goes in your team looks way better than it actually is, and when it doesn't they look worse than they actually are."

Next: Houston's next game is Monday, January 6, at home against TCU. Tip is set for 8 pm CT on ESPN2.

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