Houston basketball heads back to the Elite 8 after a Game-Winning Play over Purdue

No. 1 seed Houston basketball moved onto the elite eight for the first time since 2022 with a 62-60 win over no. 4 seed Purdue in an incredible finish at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as junior point guard Milos Uzan put in the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left. 

Houston saw their 69-59 lead with just under eight minutes to go evaporate as Purdue fought back late to tie it at 60 with 35 seconds left on a corner three from Camden Heide. 

Head coach Kelvin Sampson called a timeout and Uzan’s fadeaway shot did not go in, however the ball was last touched by Purdue, and gave Houston one more chance with 2.9 seconds to go. 

Sampson called his final timeout and then drew up the play ’51’, a three option read that worked to perfect execution, something they had practiced just the day before. 

“Our discipline allowed us to get to the second option, and then the read allowed us to get to the third option,” Sampson said. 

It ended up being the numbers game for UH on the last possession. Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler set a great screen and two Purdue players went with Cryer to the corner, which gave Tugler the simple pass on the fly back to Uzan, the in-bounder for the wide open bucket. 

“Offensively, he has a really high IQ,” Uzan said.

With the season on the line, the back to back Big 12 coach of the year called something that his team has practiced, which allowed them to execute it. 

“Don’t try to be the smartest guy in the room by drawing up a tricky play in the end of the game,” Sampson said. “Run something that you’ve practiced and repped over and over so they’ll have confidence. You could our kids had run that play all the way till the third option.”

The result: a much needed Sweet 16 win for a program that has lost in this round the last two seasons as a number one seed.

“That’s why you work on that stuff day after day after day, you never know when you’re going to need it,” Sampson said. 

Houston basketball makes their third elite eight appearance in the last five seasons and the seventh overall in program history. This win marked the 33rd of the season, tying a single season program record. 

Uzan put up a game high 22 points along with a career high six threes from nine attempts and six assists. Uzan’s triples were crucial in the first half to keep Houston afloat and then in the second half that helped them pull away. UH’s leading scorer coming in LJ Cryer only had five points on 2/13 shooting. 

Junior guard Emanuel Sharp added 17 points, but was only 2/8 from three. Houston shot 38% from the field overall, but were close to 40% from three. UH was able to dominate the offensive boards 16-7 and 20 second chance points, typical for Houston basketball. 

The Cougars struggled in the first half with their intensity, while the Boilermakers did a great job with their defense and limiting Houston. UH trailed 31-29 at halftime and shot only 30%. 

“I thought Purdue played really good defensively,” Sampson said.

Houston came out of the locker room on an 11-1 run to reclaim control as Sharp made some shots along with a dunk from senior forward Ja’Vier Francis. 

Purdue just did not go away and fought back every time Houston took a lead. Uzan hit two back to back treys that gave the Cougars a 10 point lead with 7:59 left. The crowd certainly made an impact for Purdue, but it didn’t phase Houston at all. 

“It was an advantage, but not nearly as bad as playing at Kansas or playing at Arizona or playing at Iowa State or playing at West Virginia. Those places are tougher,” Sampson said. “That’s why I didn’t make a big deal out of it.”

Naismith player of the year nominee Braden Smith dished out an incredible 15 assists while Fletcher Loyer added 16, but it wasn’t enough. 

Houston basketball will take on no. 2 seed Tennessee in the elite eight on Sunday at 1:20 pm.