Coogs top Colorado, 77-68, in quarterfinal of 2025 Big 12 Championship

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POSTED: March 14, 2025 -- 6:35 a.m. CT

KANSAS CITY, MO -- T-Mobile Center

The Houston Cougars defeated the Colorado Buffaloes, 77-68, Friday afternoon, in the second quarterfinal game of the 2025 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship. Emanuel Sharp scored a team-high 19 points to lead Houston (28-4 overall) to the win.

Houston, the top seed in the Big 12 Championship, trailed 16-seed Colorado 2-0; however, Houston guard LJ Cryer sank a three-pointer for a 3-2 lead. Houston never trailed the rest of the game.

Milos Uzan picked up his first and second foul 70 seconds a part which sent Uzan to the Houston bench with 15:35 remaining in the opening half.

Houston led Colorado 11-7 when Uzan picked up his second foul. The Coogs scored the next 10 points to lead 21-7 with 11:35 on the clock.

Houston led 32-19 before Colorado's Andrej Jakimovski scored 5 straight points during an 8-0 Colorado run which sliced Houston's lead to 32-27.

Emanuel Sharp hit a three-pointer to extend Houston's lead to 8; however, Jakimovski responded with a 3-point bucket. Sharp answered with another three-pointer; but, Jakimovski wasn't finished and nailed another 3 to trim Houston's lead to 38-33 at halftime.

Sharp scored 14 points (5 for 8 fgs - 4 for 6 threes) in the first half to lead Houston.

Jakimovski scored 16 points in the first half on 6 for 9 field goal shooting, including 3 for 5 on threes.

Houston made a concerted effort to get the ball in the paint early and often in the second half. Houston big men JoJo Tugler (6) and Ja'Vier Francis (2) combined for the Coogs' first 8 points in the second half.

Two minutes into the second half, Houston graduate forward J'Wan Roberts injured his right ankle on a baseline drive to the basket. Roberts was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and didn't return to the game.

Houston led Colorado by as much as 14 points in the second half. Colorado pulled within 7 (48-41) with 15 minutes left in the second half. Houston kept Colorado at arms' length the rest of the half. Houston failed to extend its lead thanks to 10 missed free throws in the second half.

Milos Uzan scored all 14 of his points in the second half.

Sharp scored a team-high 19 points to lead 4 Coogs in double-digit scoring. Cryer and Uzan each scored 14. Tugler added 10 points; 9 rebounds; 3 blocks; and 1 steal.

Next: Houston's next game is Friday, March 14, against BYU, in the semifinals of the 2025 Big 12 Championship. Tip is set for 8 pm CT on ESPN2.

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