No. 2 Houston falls victim to Hilton Magic in loss to No. 6 Iowa State

No. 2 Houston opened an eight-day gauntlet of three top-10 opponents in one of the toughest road environments in college basketball, facing No. 6 Iowa State in Hilton Coliseum, where they had not lost a game this season. 

The Cougars let a 10-point lead slip away, falling to 11-2 in Big 12 play.

The Cyclones closed the game on a 17-4 run, leading to their 70-67 win. 

In the games’ final two minutes, freshman guard Jamari Batemon hit a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones their first lead since the 15-minute mark of the second half.

On the other end, freshman guard Kingston Flemings hit a signature midrange jumper to regain the lead before Heise knocked down another triple. 

Junior forward JoJo Tugler recorded his third block of the game with 23 seconds left to prevent Iowa State from scoring following a shot clock violation on Houston. 

On Houston’s final possession of the game, Flemings, who finished a game-high 22 points lost his footing, forcing Chris Cenac Jr. into a missed jumper that practically sealed Houston’s fate. 

Houston had to rally back from a 10-point deficit of its own after Iowa State strung together 13 straight points early, 

With just over 14 minutes remaining, and UH down two. Houston’s next three scores all came from 3-point range, as the freshman trio of Flemings, Cenac and guard Isiah Harwell gave UH a lead it never relinquished until the final four minutes of the game. 

Houston’s improved offensive rebounding between the two halves made the difference. 

After grabbing just two offensive rebounds in the first half, the Cougars responded with seven in the second. Chris Cenac Jr. compiled five on the offensive glass, finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Houston’s starting guards, including Flemings and seniors Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, accounted for 34 of Houston’s 40 first-half points. But Sharp was limited in the second half after picking up his fourth foul with more than 14 minutes remaining, before he fouled out for the second consecutive game late. 

Next, 23-3 Houston will face No. 4 Arizona at Fertitta Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m.