LJ Cryer recorded 18 points and six assists and Emanuel Sharp added 17 points to help No. 5 Houston Cruise to an 80-65 victory over Arizona State, and set the Big 12 record for consecutive road winnings, on Tuesday evening in Tempe, Ariz.
Myik Wilson had 12 points and seven returns and J’wan Roberts had 10 points because Cougars (22-4, 14-1 Big 12) won his fifth straight match and the 12th straight on the road in the Big 12 game.
Alston Mason received a season high 26 points on 8-9-shooting and BJ Freeman added 17 points for Sun Devils (12-14, 3-12), which lost its sixth match in a row and 11th in recent 13.
Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance (Ankel) returned from an absence of two games but played only 13 minutes and did not score.
Cougars never hit and held a 36-25 rebounding edge. Houston shot 48.1 percent, including 11 out of 23 from the 3-point area.
Sun Devils made 43.2 percent of its shots and was 8 out of 22 behind the bow.
Cryer struck two 3-points in 25 seconds early in the second half to give Houston an advantage of 55-34.
Cougars laughed with seven straight points a short time later to keep a lead of 62-39 with 13:04.
Arizona State then showed some life with a 10-2 wave and moved within 15 at Amier Alis Dunk with 9:42 left.
Sharp was then buried four three in a span of 3:15 to give Houston a lead of 76-53 with 6:16.
Sun Devils scored the next 11 points – Alston dropped two Treys during the deficiency – to reduce the deficit to 12 by 1:42 before Wilson restored orders with a arrangement.
Cryer and Wilson each had 10 points during the first half when Houston had a lead of 47-31 at the break.
Cryer drilled a 3-pointer to meet a game opening 10-2 driving for Cougars.
Arizona State recovered to Trail 15-13 at Alston’s basket with 13:28 left in half.
Houston responded by getting 21 of the next 30 points. Cryer met a Trey and Wilson followed four points to finish the route and give Cougars a lead of 36-22 with 5:06 left.
Houston later led by 20 after Wilson’s trout with 1:22 to play.
-Field level media
