UCF

HOU

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Cryer scores 16, No. 5 Houston beats UCF 57-42

AP
Jan 20, 2024

HOUSTON (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 16 points, Jamal Shead added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists and No. 5 Houston used a staunch defensive effort to beat Central Florida 57-42 Saturday.

Cryer scored 13 first half points as Houston (16-2, 3-2 Big 12) built a 28-14 halftime lead. Cryer, who finished 6 of 14 from the field Saturday, scored 18 points on 7 of 31 shooting from the field over his previous three games. The Cougars shot 34%.

“I want L.J. to keep being aggressive,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “L.J.’s going to keep doing what he’s doing. We’re going to keep encouraging him. He’ll keep working.”

Ja’Vier Francis had 10 points and six rebounds for Houston, which has won 16 straight home games. The Cougars forced 15 turnovers, which they converted into 15 points, and owned a 24-6 advantage in points in the paint.

“The process is far more important than the result,” Sampson said. “I talk about our discipline, our communication, our help and recovery, being able to finish the possession off with a defensive rebound, winning the loose rebound battle, all those things. … Our defense keeps getting better because we keep working on it.”

Marchelus Avery had 10 points and six rebounds, and Thierno Sylla added eight points to lead UCF, which shot 16% (7 of 44), including 4 of 21 on 3-pointers. UCF (11-6, 2-3) was 3 of 21 from the field in the first half, including 0 for 15 inside the arc.

“They’re phenomenal defensively,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “I’ve played against them a number of years, and I’ve seen some terrific defensive teams by Houston, but I don’t think I’ve seen one defend as well as I’ve seen this team defend for 40 minutes. They did a terrific job of taking us out of the things we wanted to do.”

The 16% shooting allowed by Houston was the lowest shooting percentage the Cougars have allowed since East Carolina shot 16% (8 of 50) on Jan. 22, 2022.

Houston jumped out to a 13-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Cryer with 11:40 remaining in the first half, but the Knights responded with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three on a 3-pointer by Sylla with 7 ½ minutes left in the half.

The Cougars ended the half on a 15-4 spurt to take a 14-point lead on a layup by Mylik Wilson.

BIG PICTURE

UCF: The Knights fell to 2-4 in Quad 1 games. … The Knights were 24 of 33 from the free throw line.

Houston: The Cougars improved to 6-2 in Quad 1 and 2 games. … The 14 first half points tied a season low for points allowed in a half. It marked the tenth time this season the Cougars have allowed fewer than 20 points in a half.

UP NEXT

UCF: Hosts West Virginia on Tuesday.

Houston: Travels to No. 20 BYU on Tuesday.

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1st Half
UCF
Knights
14
HOU
Cougars
28

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Cougars gains possession)
19:40		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
19:38		Ibrahima Diallo defensive rebound
19:10		Darius Johnson misses two point jump shot
19:08		Ibrahima Diallo offensive rebound
18:57		Shemarri Allen misses three point jump shot
18:55		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
18:45		LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot
18:43		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
18:36		Official timeout
18:35		Darius Johnson turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
18:29		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
18:27		Knights defensive rebound
18:16		Ja'Vier Francis blocks Marchelus Avery's two point layup
18:14		Cougars defensive rebound
17:45		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
17:45		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
17:45		Cougars turnover (shot clock violation)
17:19		Ibrahima Diallo misses two point layup
17:17		J'wan Roberts defensive rebound
16:57	+2	J'wan Roberts makes two point hook shot	0-2
16:28		Jaylin Sellers turnover (LJ Cryer steals)
16:19	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)	0-4
15:54		Darius Johnson flagrant 1
15:54		Darius Johnson turnover (offensive foul)
15:54		TV timeout
15:54	+1	Jamal Shead makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	0-5
15:54		Jamal Shead misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2
15:54		Cougars offensive rebound
15:52		J'wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
15:50		J'wan Roberts offensive rebound
15:39		J'wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
15:37		Marchelus Avery defensive rebound
15:14		J'wan Roberts blocks Marchelus Avery's two point jump shot
15:12		Knights offensive rebound
15:11		Darius Johnson turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
14:59	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot (J'wan Roberts assists)	0-8
14:52		Knights 30 second timeout
14:25		Joseph Tugler blocks Jaylin Sellers's two point jump shot
14:23		Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
14:10		Ibrahima Diallo personal foul
14:02		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
14:00		Omar Payne defensive rebound
13:46		Marchelus Avery misses three point jump shot
13:44		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
13:35		Shemarri Allen personal foul
13:10		Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
13:08		Knights defensive rebound
12:56		J'wan Roberts shooting foul (Jaylin Sellers draws the foul)
12:56	+1	Jaylin Sellers makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-8
12:56	+1	Jaylin Sellers makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-8
12:32	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot	2-10
12:07		Joseph Tugler blocks Marchelus Avery's two point jump shot
12:05		Knights offensive rebound
12:02		Shemarri Allen misses three point jump shot
11:58		Cougars defensive rebound
11:58		TV timeout
11:40	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot	2-13
11:05		Darius Johnson misses two point jump shot
11:03		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
10:53		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
10:51		Darius Johnson defensive rebound
10:34	+3	Thierno Sylla makes three point jump shot (Marchelus Avery assists)	5-13
10:11		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
10:09		Marchelus Avery defensive rebound
10:07		Emanuel Sharp shooting foul
10:07	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-13
10:07	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-13
9:45		Emanuel Sharp misses two point jump shot
9:43		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
9:37		J'wan Roberts misses two point layup
9:35		Marchelus Avery defensive rebound
9:24		Marchelus Avery misses two point jump shot
9:22		J'wan Roberts defensive rebound
8:58		J'wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
8:56		Thierno Sylla defensive rebound
8:46		Darius Johnson misses three point jump shot
8:44		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
8:33		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
8:31		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
8:24		Emanuel Sharp personal foul
8:04		Thierno Sylla turnover (J'wan Roberts steals)
7:46		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
7:44		Shemarri Allen defensive rebound
7:37		Shemarri Allen misses two point layup
7:35		Thierno Sylla offensive rebound
7:31		Ja'Vier Francis blocks Thierno Sylla's two point jump shot
7:29		Jaylin Sellers offensive rebound
7:29	+3	Thierno Sylla makes three point jump shot (Jaylin Sellers assists)	10-13
7:29		LJ Cryer personal foul
7:29		TV timeout
7:13		Jaylin Sellers misses two point jump shot
7:11		LJ Cryer defensive rebound
6:58		Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
6:56		Darius Johnson defensive rebound
6:31		Thierno Sylla misses three point jump shot
6:29		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
6:15	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point layup	10-15
6:09		Mylik Wilson shooting foul
6:09	+1	Shemarri Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	11-15
6:09		Shemarri Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:09		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
5:54	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)	11-18
5:30		Mylik Wilson personal foul
5:13		Jamal Shead blocks Jaylin Sellers's two point jump shot
5:11		LJ Cryer defensive rebound
4:51	+2	J'wan Roberts makes two point jump shot	11-20
4:19		C.J. Walker misses two point jump shot
4:17		Cougars defensive rebound
3:49		J'wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
3:47		C.J. Walker defensive rebound
3:39		Shemarri Allen misses two point jump shot
3:37		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
3:37		Shemarri Allen personal foul
3:37		TV timeout
3:26		Omar Payne blocks Mylik Wilson's two point layup
3:24		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
3:12		Darius Johnson turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
3:07		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
3:05		C.J. Walker defensive rebound
3:05		Ja'Vier Francis personal foul
3:05		C.J. Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:05		J'wan Roberts defensive rebound
2:52	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot	11-22
2:34		Omar Payne misses three point jump shot
2:32		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
2:14		Omar Payne personal foul
2:05	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot (Mylik Wilson assists)	11-24
1:38		Darius Johnson misses two point jump shot
1:36		J'wan Roberts defensive rebound
1:20		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
1:18		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
1:01	+3	C.J. Walker makes three point jump shot (Darius Johnson assists)	14-24
0:53		Cougars 30 second timeout
0:41	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists)	14-26
0:06		Jaylin Sellers turnover (LJ Cryer steals)
0:01	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point layup (LJ Cryer assists)	14-28
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UCF
Knights
28
HOU
Cougars
29

Time		Play	Score
19:47		J'wan Roberts misses two point layup
19:45		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
19:19		Jaylin Sellers misses three point jump shot
19:17		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
18:45		Jaylin Sellers shooting foul (J'wan Roberts draws the foul)
18:45		Official timeout
18:45		J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:45		J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:45		Ibrahima Diallo defensive rebound
18:31		Jamal Shead shooting foul (Darius Johnson draws the foul)
18:31		Darius Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:31	+1	Darius Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-28
18:13	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point jump shot	15-30
18:00		Shemarri Allen turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Shead steals)
17:54		LJ Cryer misses two point layup
17:52		Ibrahima Diallo defensive rebound
17:33		Shemarri Allen misses two point jump shot
17:31		Cougars defensive rebound
17:11	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (LJ Cryer assists)	15-32
16:58		Knights 30 second timeout
16:58		TV timeout
16:42		Jaylin Sellers misses three point jump shot
16:40		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
16:27		LJ Cryer turnover (bad pass) (Ibrahima Diallo steals)
16:13		Darius Johnson misses two point jump shot
16:11		Shemarri Allen offensive rebound
16:05		Ja'Vier Francis blocks Ibrahima Diallo's two point layup
16:03		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
15:55		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
15:53		Ramon Walker Jr. offensive rebound
15:43		Darius Johnson shooting foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
15:43		TV timeout
15:43	+1	Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-33
15:43	+1	Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-34
15:27		Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul (Jaylin Sellers draws the foul)
15:18		Joseph Tugler personal foul (Ibrahima Diallo draws the foul)
15:11		C.J. Walker offensive foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul)
15:11		C.J. Walker turnover (offensive foul)
14:52		C.J. Walker blocks Emanuel Sharp's two point layup
14:50		Jamal Shead offensive rebound
14:44		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
14:42		Ibrahima Diallo defensive rebound
14:35		Emanuel Sharp shooting foul (Darius Johnson draws the foul)
14:35	+1	Darius Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-34
14:35	+1	Darius Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-34
14:17		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
14:15		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
14:07		Darius Johnson personal foul (LJ Cryer draws the foul)
13:51		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
13:49		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
13:48		Ibrahima Diallo personal foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
13:30	+3	Jamal Shead makes three point jump shot (Joseph Tugler assists)	17-37
13:15		Thierno Sylla misses three point jump shot
13:13		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
13:06		Omar Payne personal foul (Mylik Wilson draws the foul)
12:46		Mylik Wilson turnover (lost ball) (Omar Payne steals)
12:34		Marchelus Avery misses three point jump shot
12:32		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
12:10		Joseph Tugler misses two point dunk
12:08		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
12:06		Omar Payne personal foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
12:06		Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:04		Thierno Sylla defensive rebound
11:55		TV timeout
11:34		Darius Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:32		Omar Payne offensive rebound
11:32		Knights turnover (shot clock violation)
11:32		Official timeout
11:25		Mylik Wilson turnover (bad pass) (Shemarri Allen steals)
11:17		Shemarri Allen misses two point jump shot
11:15		Shemarri Allen offensive rebound
11:13		Damian Dunn personal foul (Shemarri Allen draws the foul)
11:01		LJ Cryer shooting foul (Shemarri Allen draws the foul)
11:01		Shemarri Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:01	+1	Shemarri Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-37
10:34		Emanuel Sharp misses two point jump shot
10:32		Darius Johnson defensive rebound
10:19	+2	Omar Payne makes two point layup (Darius Johnson assists)	20-37
10:00	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot (Ramon Walker Jr. assists)	20-40
9:48		Shemarri Allen turnover (lost ball) (Joseph Tugler steals)
9:29		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
9:27		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
9:17	+3	Ramon Walker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)	20-43
9:02		Emanuel Sharp personal foul (Jaylin Sellers draws the foul)
9:02	+1	Jaylin Sellers makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-43
9:02	+1	Jaylin Sellers makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-43
8:54	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point layup (Ramon Walker Jr. assists)	22-45
8:43		Darius Johnson turnover (bad pass) (LJ Cryer steals)
8:37		Darius Johnson personal foul (Jamal Shead draws the foul)
8:37	+1	Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-46
8:37	+1	Jamal Shead makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-47
8:27		Jaylin Sellers misses three point jump shot
8:25		Thierno Sylla offensive rebound
8:23		Ja'Vier Francis personal foul (Thierno Sylla draws the foul)
8:23	+1	Thierno Sylla makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-47
8:23	+1	Thierno Sylla makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-47
8:19		C.J. Walker shooting foul (Ramon Walker Jr. draws the foul)
8:19		Ramon Walker Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 3
8:19	+1	Ramon Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 3	24-48
8:19	+1	Ramon Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 3 of 3	24-49
8:07	+2	Marchelus Avery makes two point layup	26-49
7:31		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
7:29		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
7:19		C.J. Walker turnover (lost ball) (LJ Cryer steals)
7:12		Mylik Wilson misses two point dunk
7:10		Marchelus Avery defensive rebound
6:58		Marchelus Avery misses three point jump shot
6:56		Jaylin Sellers offensive rebound
6:51		Marchelus Avery turnover (bad pass) (Mylik Wilson steals)
6:51		TV timeout
6:45		Jamal Shead turnover (bad pass)
6:29		Joseph Tugler shooting foul (C.J. Walker draws the foul)
6:29	+1	C.J. Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-49
6:29		C.J. Walker misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:29		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
6:12		Thierno Sylla shooting foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul)
6:12	+1	Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-50
6:12	+1	Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-51
6:06		Jaylin Sellers misses three point jump shot
6:04		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
5:50		Marchelus Avery blocks Mylik Wilson's two point dunk
5:48		Jaylin Sellers defensive rebound
5:41		Marchelus Avery misses three point jump shot
5:39		Marchelus Avery offensive rebound
5:32		Damian Dunn shooting foul (Marchelus Avery draws the foul)
5:32	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-51
5:32	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-51
5:28		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
5:26		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
5:07		Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
5:05		Thierno Sylla defensive rebound
4:50	+3	Shemarri Allen makes three point jump shot (Darius Johnson assists)	32-51
4:50		Joseph Tugler shooting foul (Shemarri Allen draws the foul)
4:50		Shemarri Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:50		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
4:34		Emanuel Sharp misses two point jump shot
4:32		Marchelus Avery defensive rebound
4:27		Damian Dunn personal foul (Marchelus Avery draws the foul)
4:27		Emanuel Sharp technical foul
4:27	+1	Marchelus Avery makes technical free throw 1 of 2	33-51
4:27	+1	Marchelus Avery makes technical free throw 2 of 2	34-51
4:27	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-51
4:27	+1	Marchelus Avery makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-51
4:12		Jamal Shead turnover (lost ball) (C.J. Walker steals)
3:56		Marchelus Avery turnover (bad pass)
3:56		TV timeout
3:31	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists)	36-53
3:19		Thierno Sylla misses three point jump shot
3:17		Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound
3:15		Shemarri Allen personal foul (Ramon Walker Jr. draws the foul)
3:15	+1	Ramon Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-54
3:15	+1	Ramon Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-55
2:55		Antwann Jones misses two point layup
2:53		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
2:41		Cougars 30 second timeout
2:29		Damian Dunn turnover (lost ball) (Nils Machowski steals)
2:00		Mylik Wilson shooting foul (Comeh Emuobor draws the foul)
2:00	+1	Comeh Emuobor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-55
2:00		Comeh Emuobor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:00		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
1:50		Mylik Wilson misses two point layup
1:48		DeMarr Langford Jr. defensive rebound
1:48		Cedric Lath personal foul (DeMarr Langford Jr. draws the foul)
1:48		DeMarr Langford Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:48		DeMarr Langford Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:48		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
1:25	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point layup	37-57
1:12		Antwann Jones misses three point jump shot
1:10		Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound
0:50		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
0:48		Comeh Emuobor defensive rebound
0:35		Mylik Wilson shooting foul (Tyler Hendricks draws the foul)
0:35	+1	Tyler Hendricks makes regular free throw 1 of 3	38-57
0:35	+1	Tyler Hendricks makes regular free throw 2 of 3	39-57
0:35	+1	Tyler Hendricks makes regular free throw 3 of 3	40-57
0:28		Ramon Walker Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Antwann Jones steals)
0:23	+2	Antwann Jones makes two point layup	42-57
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Antwann Jones makes two point layup