Coogs lose 57-53 at Iowa State

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POSTED: January 9, 2024 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

AMES, IA -- (Hilton Coliseum)

The Houston Cougars lost 57-53 to the Iowa State Cyclones Tuesday night on the road. The loss is Houston's first loss this season (14-1 overall, 1-1 in the Big 12); and, it ends Houston's 26-game regular season win streak and also the Coogs' 12-game road winning streak.

Iowa State (12-3, 1-1) raced to a 14-0 lead in the first 5:40 of the game. The Coogs clanged shots and committed turnovers.

Houston missed 5 shot attempts and turned over the ball 4 times in the first six minutes. Houston redshirt-sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp hit a 3-pointer to end Houston's scoring drought; however, Houston had 3 more turnovers before Sharp sank another 3.

Houston trailed Iowa State 14-6 with 10:10 remaining in the first half. At the point, Houston had more turnovers (8) than points (6).

The Coogs did not commit a turnover the next six minutes; and, lo and behold, Houston started making shots and cut into Iowa State's double-digit lead. Houston outscored Iowa State 10-3 to climb within 4 (23-19) with 4:35 left in the first half.

Emanuel Sharp's third 3-pointer of the half gave him 11 of Houston's 19 points. Then, the turnovers resumed. Houston added 4 more miscues in the final four minutes which helped Iowa State close the half with an 8-2 burst and a 31-21 lead at the half.

The Coogs had 12 turnovers in the first half. Houston entered the game averaging 9 turnovers per game.

"We just kinda peed down our leg," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach, said of his team's 12 first-half turnovers.

The Cyclones outscored the Coogs 15-2 in points off turnovers in the opening half.

Houston guard LJ Cryer made a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring. Cryer's 3 was his first basket of the game.

Cryer added another jumper during a 13-6 Houston run to cut the Coogs' deficit to 3 (37-34) with 13:39 on the game clock.

Iowa State's Keshon Gilbert (2 free throws) and Hason Ward (tip-in off a Houston turnover) scored to increase their lead to 41-34. The Coogs responded with 7 in a row to tie the game at 41.

Jamal Shead, Houston senior point guard, blocked 2 jump shots in a 30-second span and scored 4 points during Houston's 7-0 spurt.

The Cyclones answered with 5 straight points for a 46-41 lead; but, Houston made another run and eventually took a 51-50 lead on a Shead pull-up jumper with 3:17 on the clock.

Houston's only lead of the game didn't last very long as Iowa State big man Robert Jones scored a layup 29 seconds later for a 52-51 lead.

With 58 seconds left in the game, Shead hit a jumper to tie the game at 53. After advancing the ball into the front court, Iowa State called timeout.

After the timeout, Iowa State freshman Milan Momcilovic posted up Shead on the left, low block. Milan caught the ball; Houston's J'Wan Roberts went to double-team; Momcilovic turned to the baseline and away from the double-team before launching a tough, turnaround jumper.

Bucket.

Houston trailed 55-53 with 30.2 seconds remaining. After a timeout, LJ Cryer came off a screen; received a pass; then, launched a 3-point attempt. The shot was long and bounded off the backboard. Momcilovic rebounded the miss and was fouled with 10 seconds left in the game. He sank both free throws for the final score. Momcilovic finished the game with 11 points.

Emanuel Sharp scored a game-high 20 points (6 for 12 field goals - 5 for 10 threes) to lead Houston. Jamal Shead was next with 14 points (5 for 15 fgs). Shead scored the 1000th point of his collegiate career during the game. Shead also had a season-high 5 turnovers.

Houston finished the game with a season-high 16 turnovers and was outscored 17-6 in points off turnovers.

Houston's next game is Saturday, January 13, on the road, against TCU. Tip is scheduled for 5 pm CT on ESPN.

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