FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Houston freshman Kingston Flemings scored 25 points, Emmanuel Sharp added 23 and the 10th-ranked Cougars overcame a long shooting slump to beat TCU 79-70 on Wednesday night.
The Cougars (18-2, 6-1 Big 12) trailed by just a point 2 1/2 minutes into the game and led by 15 points to start the second half. But they missed their last four shots before halftime and made 11 of 13 after the break. Flemings’ jumper was separated by more than five minutes and TCU trailed by just two points.
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Flemings tied his second-highest scoring game with his ninth 20-point game in the game, but he scored 42 points in the 90-86 loss and is now seventh. On Saturday the 11th, Texas Tech ended the Cougars’ 16-game winning streak in true road games, a Big 12 and school record. Houston also has won 11 straight games.
The Cougars shot 44.4% overall (25-for-54) after shooting 16-for-22 in the opening game.
Xavier Edmonds had 18 points and 10 rebounds for TCU (13-8, 3-5). David Punch had 16 points and 6 assists.
Houston went on an 8-0 run in the final seconds to pull away. Flemings hit a 3-pointer to Ramon Walker, then the rookie guard hit four free throws in that period.
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The Cougars went on a 12-0 run midway through the first half to break the only tie of the game and never trailed after that. Chase McCarty drained a long 3-pointer off the backboard to give his team a 28-16 lead, but the forward immediately headed to the bench, held his hand in obvious pain, and never returned.
Next
Houston hosts Cincinnati on Saturday in the Cougars’ first home game in 13 days.
TCU plays at Colorado State on Sunday.
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