KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The No. 2 Houston Cougars overcame an injury scare to key player J’Wan Roberts and defeated the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes 77-68 in the Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinals on March 13, 2025. With this victory, Houston has advanced to the semifinals where they will face No. 4 seed BYU.
Emanuel Sharp led the Cougars with 19 points, but his performance came amid concern as Roberts, the team's leading rebounder, suffered a right ankle sprain early in the second half, leaving him sidelined. The sprain occurred with approximately 18 minutes left to play when Roberts stepped on another player's foot.
Despite the setback, Houston's roster depth proved significant. Following Roberts' exit, junior guards LJ Cryer and Milos Uzan each provided support with 14 points apiece. Uzan's clutch shooting included two pivotal late-game three-pointers. Houston's head coach, Kelvin Sampson, noted the depth of his roster, saying, "We’re deep. We have a lot of pieces to step up, and we played well today." Houston shot 49% from the field, showing strong offensive efficiency throughout.
The Buffaloes also put forth commendable effort. Andrej Jakimovski delivered the standout performance for Colorado, scoring a career-high 25 points. Despite their gallant efforts, Colorado struggled with their shooting, finishing at just 40.4% from the field and 5-for-20 from beyond the arc. Their head coach, Tad Boyle, reflected on the team’s fight during the tournament, stating, "Our guys battled. I have no problem with our fight and our competitiveness. We came here with a new season mindset, and I’m proud of these guys for it." With the loss, Colorado ended their season at 14-20, highlighting both improvement and challenges faced throughout the year.
Colorado initiated the game with promising vigor, but Houston quickly established their dominance, leading from the early stages. After going on a 12-0 scoring run, the Cougars surged to 21-7. The Buffaloes, showing resilience, managed to close the halftime gap to just five points, trailing 38-33 at the break. Jakimovski's shooting helped keep them close.
Still, the endurance of playing three games within three days seemed to wear on Colorado as the game progressed. Houston maintained control and limited Colorado's chances significantly. Following Roberts' injury, which X-rays confirmed as negative, the coaching staff had to make strategic adjustments. Uzan's sharp shooting, particularly under pressure, allowed Houston to stabilize their rhythm as they kept the scoreboard ticking.
Houston's victory extends their impressive streak to 11 consecutive games—a clear sign of their growing strength as the NCAA Tournament approaches. Last year's disappointing postseason run, marred by injury, lingers as both motivation and caution for this team. Roberts, reflecting on the importance of staying healthy as they head closer to March Madness, noted, “I want to play every game leading up to the tournament. But these games are different—I have to be cautious.” His sentiments reflect the prudent approach the players must take during this busy stretch of games.
Up next for Houston, they’ll meet BYU, against whom they previously secured an 86-55 victory earlier this year. The Cougars' confidence and depth should give them advantages moving forward, but they will also have to navigate the uncertainty around Roberts’ health and his potential absence from the semifinals.
The Buffaloes, having shown grit throughout the tournament, look at the offseason to reshape their roster. The competition was steep, and with the help of new recruits joining, improvements for the next season are highly anticipated. Boyle expressed optimism for the future, highlighting, “The way we battled and came together at the end shows promise for what’s to come.” Colorado's participation reaffirmed their return to competitive form after years of adjustment.
This tightly contested matchup not only emphasizes the stakes of postseason play but exemplifies the importance of depth, strategy, and resilience for both teams as they maneuver through rigorous competition. Houston, with the clouds of injury behind them, strides forward, hoping to continue their pursuit of glory as the NCAA Tournament nears.