LJ Cryer scores team-high 17 points in Houston' 69-50 win over 2-seed Tennessee in the Elite 8

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POSTED: March 31, 2025 -- 6:34 a.m. CT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Lucas Oil Stadium

LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp combined for 33 points in the Houston Cougars' 69-50 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite 8 of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Cryer scored 17 and Sharp scored 16.

With the win, 1-seed Houston earned a spot in the 2025 NCAA Men's Final Four. In a game between the top 2 seeds in the Midwest Region, 1-seed Houston dominated 2-seed Tennessee. Houston never trailed in the game. The only tie in the game was 0-0. Once Houston big man JoJo Tugler scored a jump hook for a 2-0 lead, Houston never looked back.

Houston (34-4) jumped to a 9-2 lead before increasing the lead to 17-4 and eventually 29-8 with 4 minutes to go in the first half. Tennessee (30-8) missed their first 14 three-point attempts before point guard Zakai Zeigler made a three-pointer with 39 seconds left in the first half.

Houston led Tennessee 34-15 at halftime. Tennessee's 15 points are the fewest points scored in a half by a 2-seed in NCAA Tournament History.

LJ Cryer scored 10 points in the opening half. Terrance Arceneaux added 8 points off the bench. Arceneaux knocked down 2 of his 3 three-point attempts in the half. Tugler and Ja'Vier Francis combined for 8 points and 13 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

The Coogs outscored the Volunteers 11-4 in second chance points and 8-0 in points off turnovers in the half.

J'Wan Roberts, Houston graduate forward, scored a jump hook to start the second-half scoring and match Houston's largest lead of the game 21 (36-15).

Tennessee's Jordan Gainey scored 10 straight points for Tennessee as the Vols' offense warmed up to make 7 of 17 field goal attempts and cut Houston's lead to 50-37 with 6:49 remaining in the game.

Tennessee pulled within 10 points (50-40) when Sharp drained back-to-back three-point attempts for a 56-40 lead. Then, after Gainey made 2 free throws, Houston's Mylik Wilson swished a three-pointer for a 59-42 lead with 4:07 on the game clock.

"They were Houston. They do what they do," Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach, said after the game.

Barnes noted Houston's dominance in second-chance points (19-8) and in the paint (30-14) as key factors in the game.

Tennessee finished the game making 15 of 52 field goal tries (28.8 fg%). Houston shot 42.4 fg% (28 for 66) including 9 for 25 (36.0 3pt%) from three-point range.

"Really proud of this bunch," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said. "I think the reason why we have been so good over the years is we've developed a great culture that our seniors adopt and make sure that our young kids and new kids buy into it."

Next: Houston squares off against Duke on Saturday, April 5. Tip-off is set for 7:49 pm CT on CBS.

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