J'Wan Roberts Scored Game-Winning layup in Houston's 69-68 win over UCF

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POSTED: January 18, 2025 -- 3:58 p.m. CT

ORLANDO, FL -- Addition Financial Arena

The Houston Cougars edged the UCF Knights 69-68 Saturday afternoon as Houston's veteran forward J'Wan Roberts scored a driving layup with 1.1 second remaining. Roberts scored a game-high 21 points for the Coogs. He also pulled down 9 rebounds.

"We work on those late-game situations so many times," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said after the game. "It's called Triple. One guy goes off a triple. One goes of a double. The other guy becomes a single. We isolate J'Wan."

With Saturday's win, Houston improved to 14-3 overall and 6-0 in Big 12. UCF fell to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in Big 12 play.

Ja'Vier Francis scored 16 points on 5 for 6 field goal shooting and an astounding 6 for 6 from the free throw line.

"The guy that saved us tonight - no question - was Ja'Vier," Coach Sampson acknowledged. "He played like a senior. Awesome. I can't tell you how I proud I am. On a night we needed him the most, he stepped up and played his butt off."

Francis and Roberts combined for 37 points and 19 rebounds and helped Houston dominate UCF 48 to 26 in points in the paint.

Houston's offense sputtered early in the first half. The Cougars committed three turnovers in the first 4 minutes of the game and misses 6 of their first 7 shot attempts. UCF did not shoot much better than the Coogs; but, the Knights out-rebounded Houston 11 to 8 and led 14-12. Francis had 6 of the Coogs' 12 points.

UCF increased its lead to 25-16 and eventually 38-16 with 1:13 remaining in the first half. Milos Uzan scored on a pull-up jumper followed by a second-chance layup from Francis to cut Houston's halftime deficit to 38-30. Francis finished the first half with 14 points on 5 for 6 field shooting and 4 for 4 free throws.

Uzan began the second half with 4 quick points and an assist to Emanuel Sharp for Sharp's only three-point basket in the game. UCF called a quick timeout as after Houston's quick 7-0 run.

Houston went ahead 39-38 for its lead of the game on a layup from Roberts with 16:20 left in the second half. However, UCF guard Darius Johnson scored a tip-in basket 1 minute later. Johnson helped the Knights grow to 54-47 with 9:30 on the game clock.

Roberts started a 6-0 Houston burst to get within 1 (54-53). Houston trailed 56-53 when Mylik Wilson scored a second-chance layup and Emanuel Sharp sank a tough jumper and a driving layup for a 59-56 Houston lead with 6:33 on the clock.

Houston led 63-58 with 4:43 remaining; but, UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry tied the game at 63 with a three-point basket and 2 made free throws.

J'Wan Roberts scored in the paint to put Houston ahead 65-63. After UCF freshman big man Moustapha Thiam tied the game with a layup, Thiam failed to complete the three-point when he missed the free throw attempt.

Roberts rushed a running shot in the paint which resulted in UCF re-taking the lead when Keyshawn Hall split 2 free throws for a 66-65 UCF lead with 96 seconds on the game clock.

Roberts scored a layup for 67-66 Houston lead with 1:07 on the clock.

Darius Johnson missed a jump shot; but, UCF got the offensive rebound which resulted in Keyshawn Hall getting fouled. With 55 seconds remaining, Hall missed both free throw attempts.

UCF was forced to foul Houston; and, Terrance Arceneaux went to the line with 15 seconds left in the game. Arceneaux missed the front of the 1-and-1. Hall grabbed the rebound and raced up the court and scored a driving layup with 9 seconds remaining for a 68-67 UCF lead.

Houston got into the frontcourt and called timeout with 3 seconds on the clock. Both teams called a timeout. After UCF's timeout, Roberts caught the inbounds, attacked the basket, before banking in his layup attempt with 1.1 second remaining in the game.

UCF did not have a timeout remaining and Deebo's inbounds pass hit the bottom of the jumbotron which gave the ball to the Cougars. Roberts was called for setting an illegal screen which gave the ball back to the Knights with 1.1 on the clock.

Deebo's inbounds pass, this time, was deflected by JoJo Tugler. Milos Uzan pulled down the loose ball to secure the victory for Houston.

Roberts scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. Roberts recorded his second straight 20-point game this week. It was Roberts' third 20-point game this season and the eight of his Houston career. Houston improved to 7-1 when Roberts scores 20 or more points.

"This group has a championship DNA to them," Coach Sampson said describing his players.

Note: With his free throw at the 5:43 mark of the first half, graduate guard Mylik Wilson moved past the 1,000 point mark in his collegiate career. He now has 1,004 points. Wilson has scored 254 points with Houston (2023 – present), 81 with Texas Tech (2021-22) and 669 points with Louisiana (2019-21).

Next: Houston's next game is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, -- weather permitting -- at home against the Utah Utes. Tip is set for 7 pm CT on ESPN+.

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