Coogs defeat Middle Tennessee, 69-60, but Middle Tennessee was the tougher team

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POSTED: December 29, 2025 -- 6:48 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- Fertitta Center

The Houston Cougars defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 69-60, Monday night inside Fertitta Center. However, the team that played harder Monday night was not the winner.

"It hurts my heart to say this," Kelvin Sampson, Houston MBB head coach said during the postgame press conference. "But, I just thought they played harder than we did. I thought they out hustled us, they out scrapped us. They were the aggressor."

The Blue Raiders won the "50-50" loose balls early in the game. MTSU held a 9-5 rebounding edge -- 5 to 3 on the offensive boards -- at 14:44 (the first media timeout) of the game. Houston trailed 8-6 at the first media timeout.

"Like Coach said, I thought they were the aggressor tonight, especially to start the game," Emanuel Sharp acknowledged after the game. "You know, they were killing us on the boards. You know, we can't start like that. And we've just got to be better. That's all."

Houston trailed MTSU 19-16 before junior big man JoJo Tugler scored a layup, was fouled, and made the free throw to tie the game at 19. Tugler's three-point play began a 10-0 run which was capped off by a three-point basket made by Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings. Tugler scored the first 5 points in the run. Flemings scored the next 5.

Houston's 26-19 lead was the largest lead of the first half. Middle Tennessee scored the next 4 points and stayed within 2 points (30-28) the final 2 plus minutes of the first half.

Houston senior guard Milos Uzan sank a three-point basket to beat the halftime buzzer and give Houston a 33-28 lead at halftime.

The Blue Raiders' 28 points came from 12 points in the paint, 15 points on 5 made threes, and 1 made free throw.

Houston capitalized on MTSU's 9 first half turnovers and outscored MTSU 15-0 in points off turnovers.

In the second half, Houston did not enjoy its first double-digit lead of the game until the 9:51 mark of the second half. Emanuel Sharp swished a baseline jump shot for a 51-40 Houston lead. Houston extended a 45-40 lead to 53-40 with 8 points off turnovers.

Houston led by as much as 16 (63-47) with 3:38 remaining in the second half before Middle Tennessee finished the game making 3 three-pointers, 1 layup and 1 two-point jump shot.

"So, we're up 16 and a bunch of guys out there relaxing, just assuming that they're going to relax, too" Coach Sampson added. "We're good enough to go by a lot, but you've got to go earn that. So, it's a valuable lesson if we learn from it."

Kingston Flemings scored a game-high 15 points. JoJo Tugler scored 13; Emanuel Sharp scored 10. Sharp (20) and Tugler (26) dealt with early foul trouble in the first half and banged up bodies which limited their game action.

Mercy Miller scored 9 points (4 for 5 field goals) off the bench for Houston.

"But just the way we played tonight wasn't concerning," Coach Sampson remarked. It was disappointing, you know. But, on a disappointing night, I thought probably the only bright spot out there for us was probably Mercy."

During the postgame press conference, Milos Uzan added, "Poor leadership on my end, on the older guys. Just having the wrong mindset. Coming into Big 12, it's going to be a fight every game, so you've got to make sure you bring it or you're going to lose.

Coach Sampson summarized: "We've just got to be better."

NEXT: Saturday, January 3 -- at Cincinnati. Tip is set for 1 pm CT on FOX.

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