J'Wan Roberts' season-high 20 points leads Coogs over Oklahoma State

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POSTED: December 31, 2024 -- 8:55 a.m. CT

STILLWATER, OK -- Gallagher-Iba Arena

The Houston Cougars defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 60-47 Monday night to begin Big 12 Conference play 1-0. Houston graduate forward J'Wan Roberts led the Coogs with his best game (thus far) this season with a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston (9-3 overall) got the ball inside early and often. Roberts missed his first two shot attempts short; however, the offense was designed to keep feeding him the ball. Roberts responded making 9 of his next 11 field goal attempts.

"Obviously, we had a game plan -- from the get go -- was to get it into him," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars Men's Basketball Head Coach said after the game. "Get the ball to him; see how they were gonna double him. They were gonna bring their help."

Oklahoma State (8-4, 0-1) led 17-11 with 10:24 on the clock; but, the Coogs quickly responded with 6 consecutive points -- in 56 seconds -- to tie the game at 17. The Coogs outscored the Cowboys 17-1 and finished the half leading 28-18 at halftime.

The Cowboys missed their last 10 field goal attempts in the first half and made only 6 of 27 shots (22.2 fg%) in the half.

Houston's starting backcourt of LJ Cryer and Milos Uzan each scored 5 points early in the second half to stretch the Coogs' lead to 12 (40-28). The Cowboys continued to struggle to make shots; and, the Coogs methodically extended the lead.

With 6:08 remaining in the second half, Houston led 48-34 before Cryer sank 2 free throws and swished a three-pointer in transition during a 7-0 spurt to stretch the lead to 55-34 with 4:01 on the game clock. Houston led by as much as 22 (58-36).

The Cowboys scored the final six points of the game and finally matched their number of made field goals (14) to team turnovers.

After scoring 5 points in the first half, LJ Cryer scored 13 in the second half. Milos Uzan finished the game with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

"But, the guy I was most proud of tonight was (Milos) Uzan," Coach Sampson said.

Oklahoma State missed 40 of 54 shots (25.9 fg%). The Cowboys made just 3 of 22 layups.

"It's a good road win," Coach Sampson summarized.

Next: Houston's next game is Saturday, January 4, versus BYU. Tip is set for 1 pm CT and streams on ESPN+.

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