LJ Cryer sank five 3-pointers to highlight his 23-point performance on Tuesday, lifting No. 4 Houston to a 75-68 victory over No. 21 BYU in Provo, Utah.
Cryer made 7 of 14 shots from the floor and all four attempts from the foul line. He fell just shy of his season-high point total of 24, set during Houston’s 79-44 win over Montana on Nov. 24.
Big 12 Player of the Week Jamal Shead added 16 points and Houston (17-2, 4-2 Big 12) shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range to secure its third win in a row.
Damian Dunn scored 10 points off the bench and Emanuel Sharp collected nine points and nine rebounds for Houston.
BYU’s Noah Waterman drained four 3-pointers to highlight his 17-point performance. Jaxson Robinson scored 10 points and Trevin Knell added eight points and six rebounds for BYU (14-5, 2-4), which has lost two in a row and four of its last six games.
BYU erased a 13-point deficit after Waterman sank a 3-pointer in transition to forge a tie at 68-68 with 2:20 remaining in the second half.
J’Wan Roberts made one of two free-throw attempts and Sharp added two more to give Houston a three-point lead with 41 seconds left. Richie Saunders misfired from 3-point range, and Shead sank two free throws for Houston.
Dallin Hall was unable to convert a 3-pointer for BYU, and Houston sealed the win at the foul line.
Waterman made a layup and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to stake BYU to a 30-26 lead before Houston went on a 20-4 run to bridge the first and second half. Cryer highlighted that spurt with two 3-pointers, a jumper and two free throws.
Sharp sank two free throws to give Houston a 46-34 lead before BYU scored nine straight points, courtesy of Waterman’s 3-pointer and Knell’s three free throws and a 3-pointer.
Houston countered with a 13-3 run, with Cryer draining a pair of 3-pointers and Joseph Tugler’s steal and emphatic dunk highlighting that spurt.
–Field Level Media
