Top-seeded Houston defeated eighth-seeded Gonzaga 81-76 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament. LJ Cryer scored 30 points, matching his career high, and made key free throws in the final seconds to secure the win. J’Wan Roberts added 18 points for the Cougars, who will face Purdue in the regional semifinals. Houston ended Gonzaga’s streak of nine consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, the longest active streak in the nation.
Despite trailing by nine points with just over 2 minutes left, Gonzaga fought back with free throws to cut the deficit to one, 77-76, with 21 seconds remaining. However, Cryer’s clutch free throws and a defensive stop by Ja’Vier Francis secured the victory for Houston. Graham Ike led the Bulldogs with 27 points, while Khalif Battle added 17.
Houston’s physical dominance and Cryer’s scoring provided them with an early lead, and Roberts stepped up in the second half despite nursing an ankle injury. Gonzaga, known for its high-scoring offense, struggled against Houston’s tough defense and fell short of its average point total.
The Cougars had the advantage of resting key players in a blowout win in the previous round, giving them fresh legs in the closing minutes against Gonzaga. Houston will now face Purdue in the Sweet 16, with a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. The matchup between Houston and Gonzaga, two of the winningest programs in recent years, was highly competitive and lived up to expectations.
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