Uzan scores 25 points, No. 2 Houston ramps up 'D' to beat Arizona 72-64 for the Big 12 tourney title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Milos Uzan poured in 25 points, Emanuel Sharpe added 17 and second-ranked Houston turned up its trademark defense in the final minute to hold on for a 72-64 victory over Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament championship game Saturday night.

Playing without injured big man J'Wan Roberts, the Cougars (30-4) took a 64-62 lead on Uzan's 3-pointer with 5 minutes to go, then suffocated the Wildcats (22-12) down the stretch to avenge a loss to Iowa State in last year's title game.

“We did a great job of staying together,” Sharpe said. “That's what coach has been preaching. And that's why I love this team.”

Houston romped to the regular-season Big 12 title, winning 19 of 20 games in the expanded league. And it was just as dominant in three game in Kansas City, easily beating Colorado and No. 17 BYU before turning back red-hot Arizona for the trophy.

“We never panic,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I notice a lot of people around us do, but thank God they're not coaches and players. We've been in these bunkers. We've been there when it's tough. We've learned to internalize and almost get independent of everything around us. We get in a bunker and believe in each other and get to work.”

Caleb Love scored 19 points for the Wildcats. Jaden Bradley had 14 points and KJ Lewis finished with 11.

Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd had bristled after their quarterfinal win over No. 9 Texas Tech when it was suggested that the title tilt amounted to a showdown of styles: Arizona's high-flying, high-scoring offense against Houston's dominant defense.

“We’re not that bad on defense,” Lloyd said succinctly.

Turns out the Wildcats are quite good.

They harried and harrassed Houston's guards wherever they went on the floor, twice holding the Cougars without a point for 5-minute stretches in the first half. The result was a 33-28 lead in the locker room that felt just a little bit bigger.

Yet there is a reason that Houston is No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency.

The Cougars were still trailing 40-37 when they clamped down on the Wildcats, turning defense into offense and outscoring them 19-6 over the next five minutes. By the time Uzan curled in a bucket with 11:40 to go, Houston had taken a 56-46 lead — the largest of the game for either team at that point.

Arizona gamely fought back to take a 62-61 lead, only for the relentless Cougars to regain the lead seconds later, when Uzan dropped his 3-pointer. He scored again on their ensuing possession, and Houston maintained its lead from there.

The result was its third conference tourney title in five years after the pair it won in the American Athletic Conference.

Injury Update

Roberts, who sprained his right ankle in the quarterfinals, went through pregame warmups without the walking boot he wore a day earlier. But he had the boot back on as he watched from the bench in the hopes of playing in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Implications

Houston almost certainly locked up a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday and will probably begin its NCAA Tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Most expect the Wildcats to land a No. 4 seed after their run to the conference championship game.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Topics

Houston beats 'Zona for Big 12 title, eyes 1-seed

Second-ranked Houston turned up its trademark defense in the final minute to hold on for a 72-64 victory over Arizona in the Big 12 tournament championship game Saturday night.
ESPN - 1d
No. 2 Houston overcomes J'Wan Roberts' ankle injury to beat Colorado 77-69 in Big 12 quarterfinal

Emanuel Sharpe scored 19 points before fouling out, and No. 2 Houston overcame an injury to veteran forward J'Wan Roberts in the second half to beat Colorado 77-68 on Thursday and advance to the ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Caleb Love scores 27 to lead Arizona Wildcats over Texas Tech and into Big 12 final

The Arizona Wildcats (Big 12 No. 3 seed) beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 No. 2 seed) by a score of 86-80 in the Big 12 tournament semifinal.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Jefferson scores 19, Lipsey leaves with injury as No. 12 Iowa St beats Cincy 76-56 in Big 12 tourney

Joshua Jefferson had 19 points, Dishon Jackson added 10 points and 15 rebounds, and No. 12 Iowa State beat Cincinnati 76-56 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament
ABC News - 4d
Love helps Arizona topple short-handed No. 9 Texas Tech 86-80 in Big 12 tourney semifinals

Caleb Love scored 27 points and Arizona took advantage of injuries that left Texas Tech short-handed for an 86-80 victory over the No. 9 Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday night
ABC News - 2d
Love helps Arizona topple short-handed No. 9 Texas Tech 86-80 in Big 12 tourney semifinals

Caleb Love scored 27 points and Arizona took advantage of injuries that left Texas Tech short-handed for an 86-80 victory over the No. 9 Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Arizona pulls away late to beat Kansas 88-77 in a Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinal

Henri Veesaar and KJ Lewis scored 19 points apiece and Arizona pulled away late to beat Kansas 88-77 in a Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinal at T-Mobile Center on Thursday night. Veesaar ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
No. 2 Houston shuts down No. 17 BYU for a 74-54 victory in Big 12 Tournament semifinals

Emanuel Sharpe scored 26 points, LJ Cryer had 20 and second-ranked Houston stifled No. 17 BYU in a 74-54 victory Friday night that moved the Cougars into the Big 12 Tournament championship game for ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Dunn scores 25, Penn State beats No. 12 Wisconsin 86-75

D’Marco Dunn had 25 points and Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 15 points and 11 rebounds as Penn State rallied in the second half for an 86-75 victory over No. 12 Wisconsin, preventing the Badgers ...
ABC News - Mar. 8
Martinelli scores 28 and Northwestern beats Minnesota 72-64 to begin the Big Ten tourney

Nick Martinelli scored 28 points to help No. 13 seed Northwestern beat No. 12 seed Minnesota 72-64 to begin the Big Ten Tournament
ABC News - 4d
Arizona Wildcats lose to Houston in Big 12 Tournament championship game

The Arizona Wildcats basketball program lost to the Houston Cougars in the 2025 Big 12 tournament championship.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Big 12 teams picking up injuries during conference tourney with NCAA Tournament on the horizon

The Big 12 Tournament hasn't exactly been kind to its own teams when it comes to staying healthy. Second-ranked Houston cruised into the title game with a 76-56 victory over No. 17 BYU on Friday ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Houston star J'Wan Roberts wisely sits as Cougars head to Big 12 Tournament title game after pounding BYU

Injuries derailed the Cougars' in the last three NCAA Tournaments, so being cautious with Roberts in the Big 12 tourney is the right call
CBS Sports - 2d
No. 16 seed Colorado deals No. 8 seed WVU's NCAA hopes a blow with 67-60 Big 12 tourney win

Elijah Malone scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, helping No. 16 seed Colorado beat eighth-seeded West Virginia 67-60 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednedsay
ABC News - 4d
No. 2 Houston leans on its defense to shut down No. 17 BYU and return to Big 12 title game

Houston was forced to play BYU in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals without injured big man J'Wan Roberts. Turns out the second-ranked Cougars still had plenty of guys capable of playing some ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Big 12 Tournament - Arizona vs. Houston Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats

Arizona Wildcats vs. Houston Cougars Game Preview
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Nikola Priede's 20 points help Vermont women beat Albany 62-55 for the America East tourney title

Nikola Priede scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help No. 2 seed Vermont beat top-seeded Albany 62-55 on Friday night in the championship game of the America East Tournament. Vermont ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Houston vs. Arizona odds, prediction, time: 2025 Big 12 Tournament Final picks, bets from proven model

SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for the Arizona Wildcats vs. Houston Cougars on Saturday in the 2025 Big 12 Tournament Final
CBS Sports - 1d
Kylan Boswell scores 24 points to help No. 24 Illinois beats Iowa 106-94 in Big Ten tourney

Kylan Boswell scored a career-high 24 points and four other Illinois players finished in double digits as the 24th-ranked Fighting Illini beat 15th-seeded Iowa 106-94 in a wild second-round Big Ten ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Arizona Wildcats avenge loss at Kansas, beat Jayhawks to reach Big 12 semis

The Arizona men's basketball team beat the Kansas Jayhawks in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. The Wildcats will face Texas Tech next.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Donaldson helps No. 22 Michigan rally late again to beat No. 18 Wisconsin 59-53 for Big Ten title

INDIANAPOLIS — Tre Donaldson and Vladislav Goldin each scored 11 points and No. 22 Michigan closed Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament championship game on an 11-2 run to beat No. 18 Wisconsin 59-53 and ...
Yahoo Sports - 12h
West Virginia hangs on to beat UCF 72-65 after almost blowing 25-point second-half lead

Javon Small scored 25 points, freshman Jonathan Powell scored 12 of his 15 in the second half and West Virginia held off UCF 72-65 on Saturday after nearly blowing a 25-point lead in the final 20 ...
ABC News - Mar. 8
Alabama State wins first SWAC tourney title since 2011, pulls away late to beat Jackson State 60-56

CJ Hines scored 20 points and No. 5 seed Alabama State pulled away late to beat No. 2 seed Jackson State 60-56 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship and clinched its first ...
ABC News - 1d
Hammond scores 19 points to lead Colorado past TCU 76-56

Julian Hammond III scored 19 points and Colorado beat TCU 76-56 in a Big 12 Conference regular season finale
ABC News - Mar. 8
Kylan Boswell scores 24 points to help No. 24 Illinois beat Iowa 106-94 in Big Ten tourney

Tre White had 22 points and Tomislav Ivisic added 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Illinois (21-11) won its fourth straight. The Illini face No. 11 Maryland in Friday’s third quarterfinal ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
No. 4 Florida Gators win their 1st SEC Tourney title since 2014 by beating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points and fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday, beating the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers 86-77. Will ...
Yahoo Sports - 16h
Houston vs. BYU odds, score prediction, time: 2025 Big 12 Tournament picks, March 14 best bets by proven model

SportsLine's model just revealed its NCAA Basketball picks for Houston Cougars vs. BYU Cougars on Friday in the 2025 Big 12 Tournament semifinals
CBS Sports - 2d
Xavier hopes NCAA bubble doesn't burst after tough loss to No. 25 Marquette at Big East tourney

If the Xavier Musketeers get left out of the NCAA Tournament, they'll look back at Thursday as a missed opportunity. With a chance to earn a quality win over No. 25 Marquette in the Big East ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Harris and Bassett each score a goal, Steffen has 12 saves as Rapids beat Earthquakes 2-1

Calvin Harris and Cole Bassett each scored a goal, Zack Steffen had a career-high 12 saves and the Colorado Rapids beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday night. Harris and Omir Fernández ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
No. 4 Florida Gators win 1st SEC Tourney title since 2014 after beating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points and fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 15h
UCLA, South Carolina move atop women's Top 25

UCLA vaulted back up to No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25 on Monday after beating USC for the Big Ten title over the weekend.
ESPN - 6d
Gray hits six 3s as UC San Diego beats UC Irvine 75-61 for Big West title and NCAA Tourney berth

Hayden Gray knocked down six of his seven 3-point attempts and UC San Diego pulled away late to beat UC Irvine, 75-61 to earn its first Big West Conference Tournament championship and its first ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
No. 6 St. John's beats Creighton 82-66 for 1st Big East Tournament crown in 25 years

RJ Luis Jr. scored all but two of his 29 points after halftime and No. 6 St. John's made 14 straight shots from the field in the second half to beat Creighton 82-66 on Saturday night for its first ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
No. 6 St. John's beats Creighton 82-66 for 1st Big East Tournament crown in 25 years

RJ Luis Jr. scored all but two of his 29 points after halftime and No. 6 St. John’s made 14 straight shots from the field in the second half to beat Creighton 82-66 for its first Big East ...
ABC News - 1d
Harden, Leonard each score 25 points as Clippers ride lopsided 3rd quarter to 121-97 win over Hawks

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each scored 25 points, with Harden scoring 13 in a dominant third quarter for Los Angeles, and the Clippers beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-98
ABC News - 2d
Jones scores 28 as No. 25 Marquette rallies past Xavier 89-87 in Big East quarterfinal

Kam Jones scored 28 points and No. 25 Marquette rallied past Xavier 89-87 on Thursday in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Harden, Leonard each score 25 points as Clippers ride lopsided 3rd quarter to 121-97 win over Hawks

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each scored 25 points, with Harden scoring 13 in a dominant third quarter for Los Angeles, and the Clippers beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-98 on Friday night. Leonard ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Siakam scores 27 points and helps Pacers rally with big second half to beat the 76ers 112-100

Pascal Siakam scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-100 on Friday night. Myles Turner added 18 points and seven rebounds, while ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
‘They really punched us in the mouth’: BYU hasn’t forgotten first game against No. 2 Houston, an 86-55 loss

Shortly after BYU dumped Iowa State in a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game Thursday, the blue-wearing Cougars turned their attention to the No. 2 team in the country, Houston
Yahoo Sports - 3d