Houston men's basketball team defeats Southern Illinois, advances

The University of Houston men's basketball team is moving on in the NCAA Tournament. They won their first-round game against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a score of 78-40. The Cougars dominated the game with strong defense and effective shooting. Houston's guard, Milos Uzan, scored 16 points, while teammate LJ Cryer added 15 points. Ja'Vier Francis contributed with 13 points and eight rebounds. The team is riding a 14-game winning streak and has won 26 of their last 27 games. Coach Kelvin Sampson praised his team's defense and shot selection during the match. On the other side, Ray'Sean Taylor was SIUE's top scorer with 10 points. However, the team struggled to shoot from the three-point line, making only 2 of 24 attempts. Taylor expressed disappointment but remained positive about their performance. SIUE faced an uphill battle against Houston, which is known for its strong defense. The Cougars quickly took control of the game, scoring on nine consecutive possessions. As the game progressed, SIUE struggled to keep up with Houston’s pace and skill. Houston is now looking ahead to their next game against Gonzaga on Saturday. This marks the seventh straight year the Cougars have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.