Houston has advanced to the Final Four for the second time in five seasons with a dominant 69-50 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight matchup. The Cougars’ strong defense, which set a new record for fewest points allowed in the first half against a top-two seed, limited the Volunteers to just 29% shooting from the field and 17% from three-point range.
L.J. Cryer led the way for Houston with 17 points, while Emanuel Sharp contributed 18 points off the bench. Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey was the only player on the team scoring over 50% from the field, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cougars’ strong defense and offense.
The game became competitive in the second half, with Tennessee making a late push to rally. However, Houston’s defense held strong, and the Cougars ultimately closed out the game with a comfortable margin. The win sets up a matchup against Duke in the Final Four on Saturday.
Houston’s victory marks their first Elite Eight appearance since 2020, and it cements their position as one of the top teams in the country. With this win, the Cougars have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/houston-tennessee-live-updates-score-mens-march-madness-2025-elite-eight/j8zqTyyGeIJM