Houston Cougars’ formidable defense helped keep Tennessee -Freaths in check during Sunday’s Elite Eight match.
The Nation’s Stingian defense held Vols to 15 first half point, the fewest in an elite eight-game since 1979. The 69-50 win secured Houston’s first trip to Final Four since 2021.
Cougars have now arrived at the last four seven times throughout the history of the program. The victory also expanded the country’s longest active winning row to 17 matches.
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Houston Cougars appears after defeating Tennessee -Frigares under the Midwest Regional Final in Indianapolis on Sunday. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Published Pictures)
Houston’s last two races in the NCAA men’s tournament ended in Sweet 16, but this time, coach Kelvin Sampon’s team is still dancing and still has a chance to win the program’s first national title.
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Cougars face Duke on Saturday in San Antonio, only a 3 1/2-hour drive from Campus. Cougars have reached the national title game twice and lost in 1983 to North Carolina State and in 1984 to Georgetown in the Phi Slama Jama era.
Houston-Guard Emanuel Sharp made four 3-Pointers, and Joseph Tuges, who made the assistant on Friday’s decisive basket against Purdue, had nine rebounds.
Houston’s J’wan Roberts (13) celebrates in the final minut of a win over Tennessee in Elite Eight Round by NCAA College Basketball Tournament Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey scored 17 points per year. Coach Rick Barnes’ team was also removed in a regional final last year.
Houston Main coach Kelvin Sampson has Midwest Region Championship Trophy after defeating Tennessee in Elite Eight round of NCAA College Basketball Tournament on Sunday. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Since Vols had a chance to cut the deficit for single digits in the second half, the country’s top 3-point shooting team made three just beyond the arch to expand the margin to 17.
Even in the second half, Tennessee fought. The defense that surpassed Kentucky so thoroughly in the previous round could not get enough stops, and while the offense was improved, it was not good enough.
