Houston’s men’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament after defeating Auburn 81-64. Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark led the team to victory, with Houston’s dominant defense playing a key role in the game. The team is focused on advancing to the Final Four, which will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston. Houston has yet to win a national title, despite six appearances in the Final Four. The team will face either Indiana or Miami in the next round of the tournament, and Houston is determined to bring home a national title this year. Auburn finished its season with a disappointing loss to Houston, winning only five of their last 15 games. Houston improved its record to 17-1 in road and neutral-site games this season, and the team is poised to continue its success in the tournament.
Houston Advances to Sweet 16, Defeating Auburn
Top-seeded Houston beat Auburn 81-64 on Saturday night to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Despite experiencing some pain from his groin injury, Marcus Sasser scored 22 points, and Tramon Mark added a career-high 26 points. Houston, which wiped out a 10-point halftime deficit, played with the desperation of a national championship contender that didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Purdue and Kansas, the two No. 1 seeds that were eliminated earlier in the tournament.
Sasser Continues to Play Through Groin Injury
Sasser, who dealt with a groin injury that forced him to sit out the second half of Houston’s first game in the tournament, played nearly 31 minutes against Auburn. Although he felt some pain, he said it was something he could push through, and the only thing that kept him on the bench was foul trouble. Sasser finished with five 3-pointers and let out an emphatic scream when he made one of them to give Houston a 46-45 lead.
Houston Shuts Down Auburn’s Offense in Second Half
Houston returned to the court after halftime with a chip on its shoulder, shutting down Auburn’s offense and playing with the desperation of a team that was determined to win. Auburn went more than 10 1/2 minutes without a field goal in the second half, finishing with just four of 24 from the field. Although the Tigers drew plenty of fouls, they struggled mightily at the line, going 19-of-36. Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome led Auburn with 14 points apiece, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop Houston’s relentless defense.
Houston Awaits Winner of Indiana-Miami Game
Houston will face either No. 4 Indiana or No. 5 Miami in the Sweet 16 in Kansas City, Missouri. The game will take place on Friday, giving Sasser and the rest of the Houston team more time to recuperate before they take the court again. Sasser said he feels confident that his groin injury will improve in the coming days, and he’s determined to keep pushing through any pain he experiences.
Auburn Struggles to Respond to Houston’s Defense
Despite playing in front of a home crowd, Auburn struggled to respond to Houston’s relentless defense. Head coach Bruce Pearl said he wished the game had been shorter, as Houston came out and guarded his team much harder and better than they expected. Auburn was doomed by a stretch of more than 10 1/2 minutes without a field goal in the second half, and their performance at the free-throw line didn’t help their cause. Although they drew plenty of fouls, they missed 17 of their attempts from the line.
Houston Advances to Sweet 16 After Beating Auburn
Houston’s dominant defense, led by Jarace Walker and J’Wan Roberts, helped the Cougars score a victory over Auburn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Houston had 12 blocks in the game, with half of them coming from Walker, while Roberts contributed five more. Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson attributed the team’s success to their attitude and their ability to set the tone with a stop. Houston closed out the game with a 9-0 run, with Marcus Sasser delivering a 3-pointer that sent the Auburn fans heading for the exits.
Houston Silences Auburn Fans
Despite playing in front of a large Auburn contingent at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Houston was able to silence the crowd and come out with a win. Backup guard Emanuel Sharp called the team “road warriors” after the game, and Houston improved its record to 17-1 in road and neutral-site games this season.
Auburn’s Inconsistent Season Comes to an End
Auburn finished its season with a record of 21-13, winning only five of their last 15 games. The team was unable to put together back-to-back victories after Jan. 21, and their season ended in a disappointing loss to Houston.
Houston Eyes Final Four
Houston’s win over Auburn marks the team’s fourth trip to the Sweet 16 in the last five years under head coach Kelvin Sampson. However, the team’s sights are set on the Final Four, which will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston. Despite six appearances in the Final Four, the program has yet to win a national title.
Up Next
Houston will face either Indiana or Miami in the next round of the tournament, giving the Cougars another offensive threat to worry about. The team is focused on advancing to the Final Four and bringing home a national title.
Sources
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
NCAA Tournament Bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket
AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
AP Top 25 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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