Houston beat Gonzaga 81-76 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight NCAA Tournament. LJ Cryer scored 30 points, matching his career high, and J’Wan Roberts added 18 points for the Cougars. Milos Uzan made crucial free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. This victory ended Gonzaga’s streak of nine consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
Houston will face No. 4 seed Purdue in the regional semifinals. Despite Gonzaga’s high-scoring offense, Houston’s strong defense limited their scoring. The Cougars’ physical dominance and Cryer’s impressive performance in the first half gave them a lead they maintained throughout the game.
Gonzaga’s Graham Ike scored 27 points, Khalif Battle added 17, and Ryan Nembhard had 10 points and 11 assists in a losing effort. Despite a late comeback attempt by Gonzaga, Houston’s strong play and composure down the stretch secured the win.
Houston’s well-rested players appeared fresh in the closing minutes, allowing them to hold off Gonzaga’s late rally. The Cougars now look ahead to facing Purdue, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight. Both teams have been successful in recent years, making this upcoming matchup highly anticipated.
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