Coogs hold off Baylor, 65-61, and end Big 12 regular season 19-1

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POSTED: March 9, 2025 -- 12:35 p.m. CT

WACO, TX -- Foster Pavilion

The Houston Cougars defeated the Baylor Bears, 65-61, Saturday night to improve to 27-4 overall and an astounding 19-1 in the Big 12 Conference. Houston went undefeated (10-0) on the road in conference play.

"Unbelievable," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach, said of the Coogs' 10-0 Big 12 road record. "You're not supposed to do that."

Houston became the first school in Big 12 Conference history to post a perfect 10-0 road record in a 20-game schedule. The Cougars joined 2019-20 Kansas (9-0 road record) and 2001-02 Kansas (8-0) as the only schools to go undefeated in road games in a season in league history.

With Saturday's win, the Cougars finished the 2024-25 regular season with a .950 Big 12 winning percentage, the second-highest single-season mark in league history. It trailed only the 1.000, set by 2001-02 Kansas’ 16-0 Big 12 tally.

LJ Cryer, Houston graduate guard, scored 23 a team-high 23 points to lead Houston. Cryer, the Baylor transfer, was booed by the Baylor fans throughout the game; however, did his part to silence the fans with 15 points on perfect 5-for-5 three-point shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

Cryer's backcourt mate, Milos Uzan, scored 7 of his 12 points in the first half to help Cryer produce the bulk of Houston's 26 first-half points.

Houston trailed Baylor 29-26 at the half. Baylor went scoreless the last 2:56 of the half while Houston was scoreless the last 3:27.

Houston was outscored 10-6 in the paint in the first half. The Coogs were more aggressive and scored in the paint with post point from graduate forward J'Wan Roberts or dribble drives for points from redshirt-junior wing Emanuel Sharp. Sharp scored all 11 of his points in the second half; and Roberts scored 9 of his 11 points in the second half.

Baylor enjoyed its largest lead of the game (39-32) with 17:23 remaining in the second half. Baylor's Langston Love made his second three-pointer of the game for the 7 point lead. The Bears missed their next 10 three-point attempts as Houston outscored the Baylor 26-9 to lead 58-48 with 6:07 on the clock.

The Coogs led the Bears 60-52 with 3:15 remaining in the game.

Langston Love split 2 free throws before BU freshman V.J. Edgecombe swished a three-pointer to cut Houston's lead to 4 (60-56) with 2:04 on the clock.

Milos Uzan split two free throws; then, Baylor's Jalen Celestine hit an open corner three-pointer to cut the Coogs' lead to 61-59 with 1:11 to go in the 2nd half.

After LJ Cryer's three-point attempt fell short, Edgecombe missed a runner off the glass with 28 seconds remaining.

Houston guard Mylik Wilson grabbed the miss and passed the ball to Cryer. Cryer was fouled and sank both foul shots for a 63-59 Houston lead with 20 seconds on the clock.

After a Houston timeout, Edgecombe attacked the basket and was fouled by Sharp. Edgecombe made both free throws to pull Baylor within 2 (63-61) with 13 second remaining.

Baylor fouled Houston's J'Wan Roberts (away from the ball and before the ball was inbounds - but no call was made). Roberts, made both free throws to seal the victory as Edgecombe missed a three-point attempt and forward Norchad Omier missed the putback attempt.

In the second half, Houston shot 57.1 fg% (12 for 21) and 81.3 ft% (13 for 16) while Baylor shot 30.3 fg% (10 for 33) and 80.0 ft% (8 for 10) in the second half.

"There's a winning DNA that this program has had for a long time," Coach Sampson said. "I thought our defense the second half was the biggest difference. We guarded them."

Cryer finished the game with 23 points. Uzan scored 12. Roberts and Sharp each scored 11.

V.J. Edgecombe scored 23 to lead the Bears. Norchad Omier added 13 point and 16 rebounds; and, Langston Love scored 10.

"Edgecombe is the best pro-prospect we faced this year," Coach Sampson said of Baylor's uber-talented freshman.

Baylor out-rebounded Houston 38-33; outscored Houston 9-6 in second chance points; and outscored Houston 15-10 in points off turnovers -- and still lost to Houston.

"We did a lot of good things to win," Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach said after the game. "Unfortunately, we didn't make enough shots."

Next: Houston's next game is in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship in Kansas City, MO, on Thursday, March 12. Tip is set for 2 pm CT on ESPN or ESPN2.

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