“To win the way we won in double overtime speaks to this program’s culture, how tough our kids are, and our ability to hang in there,” head coach Kelvin Sampson said.
Houston stays undefeated in the Big 12 with an 8-0 record, and have won 17 conference games in a row, the second longest streak in Big 12 history and the longest by any team in conference history besides Kansas. UH extends their overall win streak to 12 with their first Quad one win of the season, and will have many chances to add more soon.
Sampson said he thought their only chance to win the game was the first 10 possessions coming out of halftime. “We’ve got to start winning battles, don’t worry about the game, there’s battles within the game you have to win,” Sampson said.
Two late game situations that worked out in Houston’s favor tonight showed their growth from their three early November losses to #1 Auburn, #4 Alabama and San Diego State. After Flory Bidunga threw down a dunk to give Kansas a 66-60 lead with a minute and a half left, Milos Uzan quickly responded with a floater and then another floater after a turnover from KU that brought the lead down to 66-64. The Jayhawks were then called for a five second violation on the inbound which gave UH the ball back as J’Wan Roberts hit two clutch free throws with 14 seconds left.
As the game went into the first overtime period, Kansas took a 79-73 lead after Rylan Griffen made both his free throws. Houston once again got back in it after Emanuel Sharp hit his first shot of the game, a deep three. The Jayhawks then wildly turned it over which created an incredible game tying three at 79 for Mylik Wilson. Houston had all the momentum after this game flipping moment. Houston outscored Kansas 13-7 in the second overtime as the threes started to go down. The Cougars shot 50% overall in OT with two triples from sharp and one from Uzan in the second overtime period.
Junior point guard Milos Uzan was a key factor in this win, who has played at an elite level recently with just one turnover in the last four games. The Vegas native had 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, just short of a triple double.
The graduate guard had the greatest game of his career at Allen Fieldhouse with 18 points on 73% shooting and six rebounds off the bench, which was a new career high. When the Cougars needed Wilson in the first half, he stepped up. The game could’ve gotten out of hand, Wilson had crucial mid range buckets to give them a shot. The 6’3 guard has greatly increased his shooting percentages from last season, and it’s paying off big time for Houston.
“There’s nobody who works on the game more than Mylik. He’s done that before, this wasn’t a one-off from him. He’s a big shot maker and a big shot taker, he’s quiet and humble,” Sampson said.
Wilson had nine first half points to lead Houston basketball and was a perfect 4/4 from the field. The Cougars went on a 17-2 run to open the second half, and a huge reason for that was Wilson.
Then, with just six seconds left in the first overtime down 79-76, Zeke Mayo of Kansas had a careless inbound that landed in the hands of Wilson, who then stepped back and drilled the absolutely clutch game tying three.
Houston basketball’s most experienced player and the “culture warrior” stepped up when he needed to just as a leader should. Roberts had a new season high 24 points along with nine rebounds and five assists in a complete performance. Roberts made some incredible hook shots down the stretch late, including one over KU’s Hunter Dickinson. After UH forced a rare five second violation on a Kansas inbound with 16 seconds left down two, Roberts was fouled and went to the free throw line, a spot of weakness for UH.
While Houston was briefly up 48-42 with 12 minutes left, the missed free throws (including nine in a row to start the second half) prevented UH from completely taking control. Roberts instead calmly made both clutch shots to tie it behind a raucous student section.
“J’Wan has a unique way of scoring over bigger players, he’s unique that way. J’Wan greatest strength is he has a really high basketball IQ,” Sampson said.
The 6th year forward scored nine points in overtime, including a critical second chance layup that made it 88-84 with 58 seconds left.
While Houston basketball made an incredible comeback, Kansas also did a historically bad job finishing the game. The Jayhawks were 80-1 when leading at halftime at home since 2018. They are now 80-2. KU led 38-31 at the half, and could have ended it in regulation, but were unable to inbound in time with a five second violation that allowed Houston to tie it.
Then at the end of the first overtime period, Kansas had a 99% chance of winning according to ESPN and 0.4% chance for Houston according to KenPom when Dajuan Harris was at the free throw line up six with 18 seconds left. Instead, the veteran point guard missed both free throws that left the door slightly cracked for Houston. The Cougars then broke the door down on a remarkable sequence with a deep Sharp three, steal on the inbound and three from Wilson to tie.
Eventually, the missed free throws started to hurt Kansas, as they were 6/14 from the line in overtime. Houston, after struggling initially, made their free throws to put the game away.
Sampson talked about the courage it took to win those battles, clearly it showed throughout this classic as it took Houston basketball every single bit of effort to see through the Phog and create one of the greatest comebacks seen in recent collegiate basketball.
Up next for Kansas basketball: vs UCF, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. CST
