Top seed Houston has easy start to March Madness, pounds Longwood 86-46
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn scored 17 points each as top-seeded Houston built a quick double-digit lead and pounded 16 seed Longwood 86-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
Coach Kelvin Sampson's Cougars (31-4) lived up to their reputation for smothering defense. They led 10-0 less than four minutes into the game and held the Lancers (21-14) to 16 points on 26.3% shooting in the first half.
“I thought our kids were sharp the first half,” Sampson said. “Our defense was really good. We watched film on Longwood, winning their tournament. ... We had a lot of respect for them, and we played accordingly.”
Emanuel Sharp added 13 points and Jamal Shead finished with 11 points and nine assists for Houston, which will face Texas A&M on Sunday in the second round of the South Region.
Johnathan Massie led Longwood, the Big South Conference tournament champion, with 10 points.
“It’s really hard to simulate that level of physicality and speed and just how hard they play,” Longwood coach Griff Aldrich said, adding that he thought his team “broke” in the first half.
Houston, ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25, was coming off a 69-41 loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament championship game, but the Cougars showed no lingering effects as they won their sixth straight first-round game in March Madness. They came in holding opponents to an average of 57 points per game and 38% shooting, and Longwood fell short of those totals.
Sampson said the difference after the Iowa State loss was the Cougars' ability to get rest. Houston is dealing with injuries that have cut into its rotation, and Sampson said his team was spent by the time it faced the Cyclones.
“We came in on Monday, worked on our defense. Worked on our defense on Tuesday. And we started working on Longwood on Wednesday,” Sampson said. “We just needed to tighten some things up. I could see us slipping.”
Houston was aggressive and double-teamed at opportune moments, forcing 14 turnovers in the first half alone. Only three Lancers scored before halftime as the Cougars led 43-16 at the break.
“They're just aggressive,” said Longwood senior guard Walyn Napper, who averages 14.6 points but was held to eight. “They earned my respect. That's the reason they are one of the best teams in the nation.”
Houston led by 41 midway through the second half, at which point Sampson began substituting. No Houston starter played more than 29 minutes.
“We don’t really look at favorites or the seeding,” Shead said. “They’re a good team, and they were here for a reason. So we looked at it like another game where we have to have the right approach or we could have lost.”
BIG PICTURE
Longwood: The Lancers didn't have the talent or athleticism to get good looks at the basket against Houston. They shot 34.1% overall and 23.1% from 3-point range.
Houston: The Cougars' defense turned this one into an early blowout. Houston also shot 58.5%, including 11 of 23 (47.8%) from beyond the arc.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Jesper Granlund vs. L.J. Cryer (Cougars gains possession) | |||
19:45 | +2 | J'Wan Roberts makes two point hook shot (Jamal Shead assists) | 0-2 | |
19:27 | DA Houston misses three point jump shot | |||
19:25 | Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound | |||
19:08 | +3 | L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists) | 0-5 | |
18:42 | Jesper Granlund turnover (lost ball) (Ja'Vier Francis steals) | |||
18:19 | L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
18:17 | Jamal Shead offensive rebound | |||
18:07 | Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot | |||
18:05 | Walyn Napper defensive rebound | |||
17:48 | Jesper Granlund turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals) | |||
17:20 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot (J'Wan Roberts assists) | 0-7 | |
16:54 | Johnathan Massie turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals) | |||
16:36 | Emanuel Sharp turnover (bad pass) | |||
16:19 | Emanuel Richards turnover (lost ball) (Jamal Shead steals) | |||
16:11 | Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot | |||
16:09 | Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound | |||
16:06 | +3 | L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Ja'Vier Francis assists) | 0-10 | |
16:05 | Lancers 30 second timeout | |||
16:05 | TV timeout | |||
15:48 | +2 | Johnathan Massie makes two point jump shot | 2-10 | |
15:18 | Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot | |||
15:17 | Lancers defensive rebound | |||
15:16 | TV timeout | |||
14:49 | Walyn Napper misses two point layup | |||
14:47 | J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound | |||
14:42 | L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
14:40 | Damian Dunn offensive rebound | |||
14:29 | Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot | |||
14:27 | Johnathan Massie personal foul | |||
14:18 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot (J'Wan Roberts assists) | 2-12 | |
14:00 | Elijah Tucker misses two point layup | |||
13:58 | Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound | |||
13:48 | Michael Christmas shooting foul (J'Wan Roberts draws the foul) | |||
13:48 | J'Wan Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
13:48 | +1 | J'Wan Roberts makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-13 | |
13:31 | Michael Christmas turnover (traveling) | |||
13:22 | Elijah Tucker personal foul | |||
13:03 | Mylik Wilson turnover (lost ball) | |||
12:44 | Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Emanuel Richards draws the foul) | |||
12:44 | +1 | Emanuel Richards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-13 | |
12:44 | +1 | Emanuel Richards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-13 | |
12:31 | Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot | |||
12:29 | Ramon Walker Jr. offensive rebound | |||
12:23 | Emanuel Richards shooting foul (Ramon Walker Jr. draws the foul) | |||
12:23 | Ramon Walker Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
12:23 | +1 | Ramon Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-14 | |
12:00 | DA Houston misses two point layup | |||
11:58 | Lancers offensive rebound | |||
11:58 | TV timeout | |||
11:41 | Walyn Napper misses three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | Elijah Tucker offensive rebound | |||
11:32 | Michael Christmas turnover (traveling) | |||
11:19 | J'Wan Roberts turnover (bad pass) | |||
11:01 | +3 | Johnathan Massie makes three point jump shot (Walyn Napper assists) | 7-14 | |
10:32 | Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Walyn Napper defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | Michael Christmas misses three point jump shot | |||
10:25 | Szymon Zapala offensive rebound | |||
10:09 | +2 | Emanuel Richards makes two point jump shot | 9-14 | |
9:48 | Walyn Napper personal foul | |||
9:33 | +3 | Jamal Shead makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cryer assists) | 9-17 | |
9:07 | Michael Christmas misses three point jump shot | |||
9:05 | J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | +2 | Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists) | 9-19 | |
8:29 | DA Houston turnover (bad pass) | |||
8:03 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point layup | 9-21 | |
7:40 | Elijah Tucker turnover (bad pass) (Emanuel Sharp steals) | |||
7:37 | Emanuel Sharp misses two point layup | |||
7:35 | L.J. Cryer offensive rebound | |||
7:34 | +2 | L.J. Cryer makes two point layup | 9-23 | |
7:16 | J'Wan Roberts shooting foul (Elijah Tucker draws the foul) | |||
7:16 | TV timeout | |||
7:16 | +1 | Elijah Tucker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-23 | |
7:16 | +1 | Elijah Tucker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-23 | |
7:03 | +2 | Damian Dunn makes two point jump shot | 11-25 | |
6:46 | Cedric Lath blocks Elijah Tucker's two point jump shot | |||
6:44 | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | |||
6:41 | +2 | Damian Dunn makes two point layup (Jamal Shead assists) | 11-27 | |
6:15 | +2 | Elijah Tucker makes two point jump shot (Walyn Napper assists) | 13-27 | |
5:49 | DA Houston shooting foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul) | |||
5:49 | +1 | Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-28 | |
5:49 | +1 | Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-29 | |
5:31 | Elijah Tucker turnover (lost ball) (L.J. Cryer steals) | |||
5:24 | Emanuel Sharp misses two point layup | |||
5:22 | Michael Christmas defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | Walyn Napper misses three point jump shot | |||
5:13 | L.J. Cryer personal foul | |||
5:13 | Lancers 30 second timeout | |||
5:09 | Johnathan Massie turnover (lost ball) (Mylik Wilson steals) | |||
4:46 | +3 | Mylik Wilson makes three point jump shot (Damian Dunn assists) | 13-32 | |
4:25 | Ja'Vier Francis blocks Johnathan Massie's two point layup | |||
4:23 | L.J. Cryer defensive rebound | |||
4:05 | Emanuel Richards personal foul | |||
4:05 | Emanuel Richards personal foul | |||
4:05 | +1 | L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-33 | |
4:05 | +1 | L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-34 | |
3:56 | Walyn Napper misses two point jump shot | |||
3:54 | Mylik Wilson defensive rebound | |||
3:43 | Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot | |||
3:41 | Walyn Napper defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Walyn Napper turnover (lost ball) (Ramon Walker Jr. steals) | |||
3:32 | +3 | L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot | 13-37 | |
3:08 | +3 | Johnathan Massie makes three point jump shot (Michael Christmas assists) | 16-37 | |
2:48 | L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
2:46 | Lancers defensive rebound | |||
2:45 | TV timeout | |||
2:35 | Walyn Napper turnover (bad pass) (Mylik Wilson steals) | |||
2:16 | J'Wan Roberts turnover (lost ball) (DA Houston steals) | |||
2:09 | Jamal Shead personal foul | |||
1:54 | Walyn Napper misses two point jump shot | |||
1:52 | J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot | |||
1:41 | J'Wan Roberts offensive rebound | |||
1:38 | +2 | J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup | 16-39 | |
1:17 | Szymon Zapala turnover (lost ball) | |||
1:03 | +2 | Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists) | 16-41 | |
0:40 | Jesper Granlund misses two point layup | |||
0:38 | Emanuel Richards offensive rebound | |||
0:36 | Emanuel Richards misses two point layup | |||
0:36 | J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound | |||
0:36 | Cougars 30 second timeout | |||
0:18 | DA Houston personal foul | |||
0:18 | +1 | Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-42 | |
0:18 | +1 | Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-43 | |
0:03 | Johnathan Massie turnover (lost ball) (L.J. Cryer steals) | |||
0:00 | L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:51 | +3 | Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists) | 16-46 | |
19:27 | Emanuel Sharp shooting foul (DA Houston draws the foul) | |||
19:27 | DA Houston misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
19:27 | +1 | DA Houston makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-46 | |
19:02 | +2 | J'Wan Roberts makes two point jump shot (Ja'Vier Francis assists) | 17-48 | |
18:42 | Jesper Granlund misses three point jump shot | |||
18:40 | L.J. Cryer defensive rebound | |||
18:27 | Jesper Granlund personal foul | |||
18:13 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point layup | 17-50 | |
17:54 | Johnathan Massie misses two point jump shot | |||
17:52 | Cougars defensive rebound | |||
17:34 | Emanuel Richards shooting foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul) | |||
17:34 | Emanuel Sharp misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:34 | +1 | Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-51 | |
17:20 |