Houston defeats West Virginia: Live updates, score of Big 12 Conference game
![Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (right) Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (right)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4407,h_2478,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/houston_cougars_on_si/01jgden2n48sde6ftrj6.jpg)
Unlike its previous two road games, Houston didn't have things come down to the wire.
The Cougars nearly did have another thrilling finish after West Virginia nearly erased Houston's 20-point halftime lead with a second-half rally. But the Cougars withstood the Mountaineers' charge, and got a late 9-0 run to pull away for a 63-49 Big 12 Conference win Wednesday night for their 13th consecutive victory.
As far as the Cougars are concerned, as long as they are on the right side of the scoreboard, thatβs the main thing. Houston (17-3, 9-0), which pulled off a one-point win two weeks ago at UCF and a dramatic double-overtime win at Kansas last weekend, seemed to be in control with a 39-19 halftime advantage.
How to watch Houston-West Virginia basketball: TV channel, live stream, predictions
But the Mountaineers stormed out of the locker room to start the second half with an 11-0 run and later got to within five points, including 49-44 with seven minutes left. Houston, though, pushed back and ended the game with a 14-5 run, including reeling off nine straight points.
Wednesday's win also allowed Houston to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. The Cougars are now ranked No. 2 in the latest edition of the NCAA NET Rankings, which is used to help determine seeding for the tournament.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi on Houston: 'Might very well be the best team in the country'
Houston now returns home to the Fertitta Center for its next two ballgames. The Cougars, ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press poll and No. 5 in the USA Today coaches' poll, faces another ranked team, Texas Tech, this Saturday; then welcome in Oklahoma State on Tuesday.
Follow Houston Cougars On SI writer Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from the WVU Coliseum.
Scroll down for live score and game updates from tipoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.
HOUSTON 63, WEST VIRGINIA 49 FINAL
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POSTGAME STATS AND ANALYSIS
- Houston shot 48.1 percent from the field (25-of-52). Cougars also had 16 second-chance points to only three for West Virginia.
- West Virginia was held to 46.5 percent shooting from the field (20-of-43), 22.2 percent from 3-point range (4-of-18) and 45.5 percent from the free throw line (5-of-11). The Mountaineers did not have a player in double figures, as leading scorer Javon Small had 8 points while sitting out at several junctures with an injury.
- Houston makes it 13 straight wins with a 14-point road win at West Virginia. The Cougars had three players in double figures, led by 17 from LJ Cryer and Joseph Tugler with 12. Milos Uzan added 10, with him and Cryer each making two 3's.
SECOND HALF
- Emanuel Sharp returned to the court as Houston ran out the rest of the clock and leaves Morgantown with its 13th straight win.
- Houston appears to weather the storm, as the Cougars go on a late 9-0 run, capped by a baseline drive to the basket from Terrance Arceneaux. (Houston, 61-46 | 1:10, 2nd)
- Bit of bad news for Houston, though, as junior guard Emanuel Sharp leaves the game with an ankle injury, which has hampered his play of late. Sharp had just 3 points on the night.
- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Cougars get their first 3-pointer of the second half, as Milos Uzan knocks down the trey, and Houston's lead is back in double digits. (Houston, 57-46 | 3:58, 2nd)
Needed it. Got it.
β Houston Men's Hoops π πΎ (@UHCougarMBK) January 30, 2025
πΊ ESPN+ | @lossyuzan pic.twitter.com/jNVOJyNfVk
- THREE-POINT PLAY HOUSTON: West Virginia misses the front end of a one-and-one and Houston gets the rebound. Seconds later, the Mountaineers are called for goaltending on an LJ Cryer shot while he was fouled. Cryer then finishes off the three-point play at the line. (Houston, 52-44 | 6:43, 2nd)
- Still a five-point game. Houston went back up seven on two free throws from LJ Cryer, who is now in double figures with 10. West Virginia then scored again on the other end. (Houston, 49-44 | 7:00, 2nd)
- West Virginia is now within five, but the Mountaineers are currently without their leading scorer, Javon Small, who left the game with an injury and went back to the locker room. (Houston, 47-42 | 8:30, 2nd)
- West Virginia gets within six points again as we pass the midway point of the second half. (Houston, 47-41 | 9:25, 2nd)
- STICKBACK SHOT HOUSTON: Much-needed basket from the Cougars as Ja'Vier Francis rebounds a missed shot and puts it back through. Houston lead back up to eight. (Houston, 45-37 | 11:13, 2nd)
- Houston's lead has now been cut to six and West Virginia nearly made it a one-possession game, but a 3-point attempt rolls in and out. (Houston, 43-37 | 13:00, 2nd)
- West Virginia scored the first 11 points of the second half before Houston broke the run with a basket. Mountaineers then knock down a 3 to cut the Cougar lead to eight, but Mylik Wilson scores on the other end to push it back up to double digits. (Houston, 43-33 | 14:48, 2nd)
- West Virginia comes out of the locker room in the second half with something to prove, as the Mountaineers reel off seven straight points. Kelvin Sampson calls time out. (Houston, 39-26 | 17:57, 2nd)
HALFTIME STATS AND ANALYSIS
- Joseph Tugler leads Houston in scoring with 10 points. LJ Cryer has 8 as well, with the Cougars shooting exactly 50 percent from the field (15-of-30). Houston has held West Virginia to 36.4 percent shooting (8-of-22), with only two 3-pointers.
π points in the first half for the big man πͺ#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/tmK91BX4Sx
β Houston Men's Hoops π πΎ (@UHCougarMBK) January 30, 2025
- A dominant first half by Houston in Morgantown, and the Cougars are 20 minutes away from making it win number 13.
FIRST HALF
- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Terrance Arceneaux swishes another trey, and Houston now has its biggest lead at 20 points. (Houston, 39-19 | :45, 1st)
- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Terrance Arceneaux gets a 3-pointer to bounce on through, and the Cougars are now up by 17. (Houston, 32-15 | 3:45, 1st)
- SLAM DUNK HOUSTON. Joseph Tugler throws one down while in transition and Houston is still in command. (Houston, 29-15, 4:10, 1st)
Blink and you'll miss it
β Houston Men's Hoops π πΎ (@UHCougarMBK) January 30, 2025
πΊ ESPN+ | @joseph_tugler pic.twitter.com/X8ZwEXNmX3
- Media time out exactly eight minutes in, and Houston is now up by 10. LJ Cryer already with a pair of 3-pointers, as the Cougars have shot 60 percent from the field. Mountaineers have shot 38 percent thus far.
- A hot start for Houston, as the Cougars jump out to a 15-7 lead six minutes in. Coogs have shot 55 percent from the field. (Houston, 15-7 | 14:00, 1st)
PREGAME
- Live from the WVU Coliseum, the Big 12-leading Houston Cougars get set to take on West Virginia, which is desperately seeking to stay alive in the conference race. The Mountaineers did beat Iowa State on this court not too long ago.