The unthinkable nearly happened in Orlando on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Houston Cougars narrowly escaped an upset at the hands of the UCF Knights. In a thrilling back-and-forth battle that came down to the wire, Houston’s J’Wan Roberts delivered the game-winning layup with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock, propelling the Cougars to a heart-stopping 69-68 victory.
Roberts Dominates Second Half to Lead Houston Comeback
Trailing 38-30 at halftime and by as many as 12 points in the game, Houston needed a hero to step up and deliver. That hero proved to be J’Wan Roberts, who scored a staggering 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. The sophomore forward was a force to be reckoned with, shooting an efficient 10-for-17 from the field while also grabbing nine rebounds.
Roberts’ dominance was especially crucial given the struggles of star guard Keyshawn Hall, who managed just six points on 2-for-12 shooting. Hall, who erupted for 40 points in UCF’s win over Arizona State earlier in the week, found the going much tougher against Houston’s suffocating defense.
Thiam, Ivy-Curry Lead Valiant Effort for UCF
Despite coming up just short, UCF gave Houston all it could handle thanks to standout performances from Moustapha Thiam and Jordan Ivy-Curry. Thiam, a towering 7-foot-2 center, poured in 18 points to go along with five rebounds and three blocks. Ivy-Curry added 14 points of his own, while Darius Johnson chipped in 13.
We knew coming in that this would be a tough game against a very talented UCF squad. They pushed us to the limit, but our guys showed tremendous resilience and found a way to get it done when it mattered most.
– Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson
Houston’s Largest Comeback Win in Two Years
The Cougars’ 12-point comeback marked their largest since rallying from a similar deficit to beat Cincinnati on January 28, 2023. That ability to dig deep and overcome adversity is a hallmark of Kelvin Sampson’s program, which improved to 14-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Big 12 play with the win.
- Houston extends win streak to 10 games
- Cougars remain unbeaten in Big 12 play at 6-0
- UCF suffers heartbreaking loss despite valiant effort
Next up for Houston is a home date with Wichita State on Wednesday night, while UCF will look to bounce back when it visits SMU on the same evening. With March Madness looming, both teams will aim to build momentum and bolster their postseason resumes in the coming weeks.
