MENS BASKETBALL

Houston 73, Iowa State 65

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON - Jamal Shead had 26 points, including 20 in the second half, and No. 2 Houston took sole possession of first place in the Big 12 with a 73-65 win over No. 6 Iowa State.

Emanuel Sharp added 20 points for the Cougars (23-3, 10-3), who won their 20th consecutive home game — the longest active streak in the country. They hold a one-game lead over the Cyclones (20-6, 9-4) with five games remaining in the regular season for both teams.

Shead shot 5 of 7 from the field and 9 for 10 at the free-throw line in the second half. He finished 6 of 10 from the floor and added six assists.

Houston, which never trailed, turned 16 Iowa State turnovers into 20 points.

Keshon Gilbert had 17 points for the Cyclones, who outrebounded Houston 39-30. Tre King and Curtis Jones scored 13 apiece.

Both teams shot 42% from the field.

The Cyclones got as close as three early in the second half, but Houston built its lead back to 43-32 on a 3-pointer by Sharp with 15 minutes left.

Iowa State continued to chip away, getting the deficit down to four several times in the second half, with the last coming on a 3 by King with 8:22 to go. But the Cougars scored the next four points and went back ahead by eight on a layup by J’Wan Roberts with 7:18 left.

BIG PICTURE

Iowa State: Fell to 6-5 in Quad 1 games. The Cyclones are 15-0 at home but 4-4 on the road.

Houston: The Cougars improved to 9-3 in Quad 1 games. They have at least three more remaining in the regular season.

Houston athletics press release

February 19, 2024