Cryer and Sharp lead Coogs over Arizona State

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POSTED: February 19, 2025 -- 8:30 a.m. CT

TEMPE, AZ -- Desert Financial Arena

The Houston Cougars defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 80-65 Tuesday night to improve to 22-4 overall and 14-1 in the Big 12 as well as maintain a 2 game lead over the second-place Arizona Wildcats.

With Tuesday's win, Houston set a Big 12 Conference record with its 12th straight road victory. That streak tops the previous record of 11 consecutive games by Kansas on two occasions (Jan. 8, 2020 – Jan. 5, 2021 and Feb. 25, 2001 – Jan. 6, 2003).

"Unbelievable accomplishment," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said after the game. "That's something that people will remember this program for; and, to be able to do that, you've got to have tough kids, talented kids, mentally tough kids.

"Think about all the places that we've played. How many great programs there are in the Big 12. Twelve consecutive road wins. It's hard to win one. It's hard to win two. To win 12 (in a row), I'm just very thankful for the staff that I have; the players. I'm blessed to have high character kids; that believe in each other; love each other. Hats off to these kids and this staff."

Houston never trailed in the ball game. Houston's Emanuel Sharp split 2 free throws to start the scoring. JoJo Tugler made a left-handed jump hook for a 3-0 Houston lead.

Arizona State's BJ Freeman scored a layup to trim Houston's lead to 3-2. Houston scored the next 7 points. LJ Cryer scored 5 of the 7 points.

ASU scored 6 straight to cut Houston's lead to 10-8 before Houston responded with another 7-0 spurt for a 15-8 lead with 14:31 remaining in the first half.

ASU's BJ Freeman and Alston Mason combined for 5 straight points; but, Cryer, J'Wan Roberts, and Mylik Wilson combined for 17 points during a 21-9 run which increased Houston's lead to 36-24 with 4:53 left in the first half.

Wilson added 4 more of his 10 first half points during an 11-3 Houston run to push the Coogs' lead to 47-27 with 1:22 to go in the opening 20 minutes.

Houston led ASU 47-31 at halftime. Cryer and Wilson each scored 10 points in the half.

Cryer knocked down back-to-back three-point shots in the first 3 minutes of the second half. Milos Uzan swished a three-pointer for a 58-39 Houston lead; then, big man Ja'Vier Francis had a put back slam dunk before Roberts made 2 free throws for a 62-39 lead.

BJ Freeman scored 4 points during a 10-2 ASU run to trim Houston's lead to 15 (64-49) with 9:42 on the clock. Emanuel Sharp banged in four consecutive three-pointers to increase Houston's lead to 76-53 with 6:16 to go in the ball game.

ASU did not quit and responded with an 11-0 run to pull within 12 (76-64) with 1:42 left in the ball game. Coach Sampson subbed out his young and inexperienced bench players for his veterans to close out the victory.

LJ Cryer led Houston with 18 points. Cryer added 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Emanuel Sharp was next with 17 points and 4 boards.

Cryer and Sharp each sank 4 three-pointers (out of 17 attempts) in the game.

Mylik Wilson added 12 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. J'Wan Roberts chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Houston out-rebounded Arizona State 36-25 and outscored ASU 20-14 in points off turnovers.

"They have a bunch of grown men," Bobby Hurley, ASU Head Coach, said of Houston after the game. "They really get after it on defense. It feels like there's six guys on the floor the way they're able to put two guys on the ball and still rotate around.

"A lot of coaches throw around words like culture and identity and clichés and stuff," Coach Hurley continued. "They have it. He gets them to play really hard and the right way."

Next: Houston's next game is this Saturday, February 22, vs Iowa State. Tip is set for 1 pm CT on ESPN.

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