Houston Defeats Notre Dame 65-54 in Las Vegas

In a late-night clash at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, No. 6 Houston defeated Notre Dame 65-54, marking the Cougars' first victory of the event. Houston's Emanuel Sharp led the game with 17 points, while J’Wan Roberts tied the University of Houston record for most wins with 121. Notre Dame, playing without injured star Markus Burton, struggled offensively in the second half, scoring only 10 points in the final 10 minutes. Despite a strong first half where they managed to keep the score close, the Irish could not overcome a four-minute scoring drought that allowed Houston to maintain control. The loss extended Notre Dame's streak to three, dropping their record to 4-3, while the Cougars improved to 4-2. Notre Dame will next aim to secure a win against Creighton on Saturday.