No. 1 Houston dominated the game against No. 14 Kansas, defeating them with a final score of 76-46. Jamal Shead led the scoring for Kansas with 13 points, while Damian Dunn contributed 12 points. On the other side, L.J. Cryer scored 11 points and J’Wan Roberts had 10 points and eight rebounds for Houston. The Cougars had a strong first half, taking a commanding 40-21 lead. They shot 46% from the field and made six 3-pointers. Houston continued their impressive performance throughout the game, shooting 44% overall and hitting 11-of-29 shots from beyond the arc. They also capitalized on Kansas’ turnovers, converting them into 30 points. This victory marked Houston’s ninth consecutive win and extended their home winning streak to 22 games.
Kansas faced some challenges in the game, with Hunter Dickinson leaving the court due to a shoulder injury. He had contributed 11 points and six rebounds before his departure. Additionally, Kevin McCullar Jr., who had previously injured his knee, did not play in the second half. Kansas struggled with their shooting, only making 33% of their shots and going 3-of-21 from 3-point range. The Jayhawks have now lost three of their last four games.
The game between Houston and Kansas was a complete turnaround from their previous meeting on February 3. In that game, Kansas had taken an early lead and shot an impressive 69% to secure a 78-65 victory. However, this time, Houston took control from the start, building a 34-9 lead at one point in the first half. Kansas struggled to find their rhythm and missed 10 consecutive field goal attempts. The stark contrast in performance between the two games showcased Houston’s dominance in this matchup.
Looking ahead, Kansas will enter the Big 12 Championship as the No. 6 seed. Their first game will be on Wednesday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m. CT, where they will face the winner of the No. 14 West Virginia and No. 11 Cincinnati contest. The Big 12 Championship will take place from March 12-16 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
