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West Virginia guard Joseph Yesufu (1) is defended by Houston guard Terrance Arceneaux (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
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West Virginia men's basketball can't slow down Houston in loss

ASSOCIATED PRESS

West Virginia men's basketball can't slow down Houston in loss

Mountaineers have lost three straight

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — L.J. Cryer scored 17 points and No. 6 Houston men’s basketball never trailed in beating West Virginia, 63-49, on Wednesday night for the Cougars' 13th straight win.

Joseph Tugler added 12 points and Milos Uzan scored 10 for Houston (17-3, 9-0 Big 12).

The Cougars' 18-game league winning streak dating to last season is the second longest in Big 12 history.

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West Virginia (13-7 4-5) has lost three straight. Big 12 leading scorer Javon Small was held to eight points, nearly 12 below his average.

West Virginia guard Toby Okani (5) dunks the ball as Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance (21) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/William Wotring)
The Associated Press
Arizona State pulls away in second half to knock off No. 23 West Virginia

Houston scored the first eight points of the game and led 39-19 at halftime. An 11-0 run for West Virginia to start the second half was only a temporary pause in the Cougars' momentum.

Houston held a 34-19 rebounding advantage in sweeping the regular-season series with the Mountaineers.

Takeaways

Houston: Cryer has averaged 20 points in six career games against the Mountaineers.

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West Virginia: The injury-depleted Mountaineers have been held to 60 points or less in four of their past five games and under 20 points at halftime in their last two. They'll need to turn things around to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive under first-year coach Darian DeVries.

Key moment

After West Virginia trimmed a 20-point halftime deficit to 49-44 with 7:52 remaining, Cryer made a three-point play to start a 12-2 run that put the Cougars back ahead by double digits for good.

Key stat

West Virginia needed to play a nearly perfect game to have a chance, but shot 4 of 18 (22%) from 3-point range.

Up next

Houston: Hosts No. 22 Texas Tech on Saturday.

West Virginia guard Javon Small (7) protects the ball from Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/William Wotring)
The Associated Press
Javon Small scores 27 as West Virginia men's basketball beats No. 2 Iowa State

West Virginia: Plays at Cincinnati on Sunday.

First Published: January 30, 2025, 2:31 a.m.
Updated: January 30, 2025, 3:57 a.m.

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West Virginia guard Joseph Yesufu (1) is defended by Houston guard Terrance Arceneaux (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
West Virginia center Eduardo Andre (0) is defended by Houston forward Joseph Tugler (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
MORGANTOWN, WV - JANUARY 29: Head coach Darian DeVries of the West Virginia Mountaineers talks to Amani Hansberry #13 in the first half during a college basketball game against the Houston Cougars at the WVU Coliseum on January 29, 2025 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)  (Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)
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