In a gripping Big 12 Tournament championship game, Houston overcame Arizona 72-64 primarily due to their exceptional defensive performance, even without star player J'Wan Roberts. Milos Uzan scored 25 points, while Emanuel Sharp added 17, leading Houston's attack. The Cougars took control late after a close game, demonstrating their ability to turn defensive pressure into offensive opportunities. Houston's victory avenged last year's championship loss and secured their fourth consecutive 30-win season, matching a rare achievement in Division I history.
Playing without injured big man J'Wan Roberts, the Cougars took a 64-62 lead on Uzan's 3-pointer with 5 minutes to go, then suffocated the Wildcats (22-12) down the stretch.
Houston romped to the regular-season Big 12 title, winning 19 of 20 games in the expanded league. And it was just as dominant in three games in Kansas City, easily beating Colorado and No. 17 BYU before turning back red-hot Arizona for the trophy.
Turns out the Wildcats are quite good. They harried and harassed Houston's guards wherever they went on the floor, twice holding the Cougars without a point for 5-minute stretches in the first half.
Yet there is a reason that Houston is No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency. The Cougars were still trailing 40-37 when they clamped down on the Wildcats, turning defense into offense and outscoring them 19-6 over the next five minutes.
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