Illinois too tall a task for Cougars in Sweet 16 defeat

The No. 2 seed Houston could overcome first half shooting woes because its defense held the No. 3 seed Illinois to just 24 first half points, its lowest first half total this season.

But what it could not overcome was 17 straight Illinois points early in the second half that drove Houston to the brink.

Over six and a half minutes without a basket. 

And Finishing the game shooting less than 35% from the field as the Cougars lost 65-55 to Illinois at Toyota Center Thursday in the Sweet 16 to the tallest team in college basketball, which outrebounded the Cougars 43-34.

Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic made four of Illinois’ 10 first half field goals, scoring five straight to give it a seven point lead. That grew to as much as eight, with its next score being freshman Keaton Wagler’s first field goal. He still managed to finish with a double double with 12 points and a game high 11 rebounds. 

Redshirt senior guard Emanuel Sharp’s second triple followed by a Flemings’ make from deep that cut the lead to two heading into the half. It was the lowest scoring first half in the NCAA Tournament as the team’s combined for just 46 points.

A trip to the Elite Eight was in reach. 

But many of their performances were far from their most elite of the season.

Only two Cougars scored in double figures with Sharp leading all scorers with 17 points, and freshman guard Kingston Flemings putting up 11 points in what was likely both of their final games as Cougars if Flemings, a protected top ten pick enters the NBA draft. 

While Chris Cenac Jr. contributed eight first half rebounds, he only had two in the second and shot 3-of-12 from the field. 

Senior guard Milos Uzan, shot 2-for-11 with just six points. 

The bench did not score a single point until redshirt freshman Chase McCarty scored back to back to back 3-pointers with just under six minutes remaining, cutting the lead back to single digits.

Illinois responded with eight straight points. 

With 1:08 on the clock, a 13-2 Houston run made it a seven-point game, but it was too little too late.

Both teams started the game a combined 1-of-17 from the field through nearly the first five minutes. 

But it was the Cougars, who finished the season with a 30-7 record while never seeming to find their groove.