Houston Advances to Final Four, Defeats Tennessee 69-50

The Houston Cougars advanced to the Final Four for the seventh time in program history, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers 69-50 in the Elite Eight. Houston's defense was a standout, holding Tennessee to just 15 first-half points, marking the fewest scored in an Elite Eight game since 1979. L.J. Cryer led Houston with 17 points, while Emanuel Sharp contributed 16 points and was named the region's Most Outstanding Player. The victory extends Houston's active winning streak to 17 games, a significant turnaround after being eliminated in the Sweet 16 in the previous two tournaments. The Cougars will face Duke in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio, just a short drive from their campus. Tennessee, despite strong individual performances from Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey, fell short of reaching their first Final Four appearance, continuing their struggles in regional finals.