MENS BASKETBALL

Houston 86, Longwood 46

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn scored 17 points each as top-seeded Houston built a quick double-digit lead and pounded 16 seed Longwood 86-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars (31-4) lived up to their reputation for smothering defense. They led 10-0 less than four minutes into the game and held the Lancers (21-14) to 16 points on 26.3% shooting in the first half.

Emanuel Sharp added 13 points and Jamal Shead finished with 11 points and nine assists for Houston, which will face Texas A&M on Sunday in the second round of the South Region.

Johnathan Massie led Longwood, the Big South Conference champion, with 10 points.

Houston, ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, was coming off a 69-41 loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament championship game, but the Cougars showed no lingering effects as they won their sixth straight first-round game in March Madness. They came in holding opponents to an average of 57 points per game and 38% shooting, and Longwood fell short of those totals.

Houston was aggressive and double-teamed at opportune moments, forcing 14 turnovers in the first half alone. Only three Lancers scored before halftime as the Cougars led 43-16 at the break.

Houston led by 41 midway through the second half, at which point Sampson began substituting. No Houston starter played more than 29 minutes.

BIG PICTURE

Longwood: The Lancers didn’t have the talent or athleticism to get good looks at the basket against Houston. They shot 34.1% overall and 23.1% from 3-point range.

Houston: The Cougars’ defense turned this one into an early blowout. Houston also shot 58.5%, including 11 of 23 (47.8%) from 3-point range.

Houston athletics press release

March 22, 2024