HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Houston Cougars dominated the Arizona State Sun Devils 103-73 in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston built an insurmountable 56-29 halftime lead and cruised to its 17th win against one loss this season. Arizona State fell to 10-8. The Cougars, a heavy pregame favorite, outperformed the Sun Devils in both halves before a crowd of 7,035. The teams’ combined 176 points sailed over the projected total. Houston next plays at Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Arizona State hosts West Virginia on Jan. 21.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Houston Cougars delivered a masterclass in suffocating defense and opportunistic offense, overwhelming the Arizona State Sun Devils from the opening tip and cruising to a 103-73 victory in a Big 12 conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion. A crowd of 7,035 watched the No. 1-ranked Cougars, though their ranking was not a focus of the broadcast, improve to 17-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. Arizona State fell to 10-8, 2-4. The most important part of the game was its inception. Houston established its dominance immediately with a devastating 22-2 run over the first six minutes, a stretch that rendered the remaining 34 minutes a formality. The Cougars set the tone on the game’s first possession, as Joseph Tugler won the opening jump ball and found Chris Cenac Jr. for a 3-pointer just 16 seconds in. What followed was a relentless barrage fueled by Houston’s trademark defensive pressure. Arizona State committed turnovers on four of its first five possessions, leading directly to easy Houston baskets. Milos Uzan and Kingston Flemings recorded early steals, with Flemings capping the initial flurry with a thunderous dunk off a Uzan assist for a 5-0 lead less than 40 seconds into the contest. The Sun Devils, visibly rattled, missed their first five shots from the field and committed seven turnovers before the first media timeout, as Houston’s lead ballooned to 17-2 and then 22-4. The Cougars’ defense was the engine of their offense, converting 14 first-half Arizona State turnovers into 21 points. Houston finished the game with a staggering 31 points off turnovers, compared to just 14 for the Sun Devils. The interior was equally controlled by the home team, which outscored Arizona State 44-22 in the paint. Houston guard Kingston Flemings, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from San Antonio, was the orchestrator of the onslaught. He finished with a game-high 20 points, eight assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes, consistently breaking down the Sun Devil defense and creating for himself and others. His performance continued an excellent stretch of play, following recent outings of 23 points against Texas Tech and consecutive 10-point, 7-assist games against Baylor and West Virginia. He was far from alone. Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-11 forward from New Orleans, provided 18 points, five assists and a block. Milos Uzan added 16 points and three assists, while Joseph Tugler contributed 12 points, three assists and two blocks. The Cougars’ depth was on full display, with Isiah Harwell and Emanuel Sharp each adding eight points off the bench. Sharp finished with 16 points total. Arizona State, which trailed 56-29 at halftime, showed more fight after the break, scoring 44 second-half points. The Sun Devils were led by Andrija Grbovic of Montenegro, who scored 14 points, and Anthony Johnson and Noah Meeusen, who added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Meeusen, from Belgium, also had three assists. Despite the improved second-half scoring, the Sun Devils could never cut the deficit below 24 points as Houston’s offense remained efficient and its defense never relented. The Cougars shot over 50% from the field for the game, while their defense held Arizona State well under that mark. The victory was Houston’s fourth straight since its lone loss of the season at Cincinnati on Jan. 3. The Cougars entered the game as heavy favorites, with betting markets installing them as 16.5-point favorites and statistical models giving them a 98.7% probability to win. They easily covered the spread, and the combined 176 points sailed over the over/under line of 146.5. Arizona State, coming off a road loss to Arizona, continues a difficult stretch of conference play. The Sun Devils will host West Virginia on Wednesday. Houston, meanwhile, will hit the road for its next contest, facing Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday.

Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils at Houston Cougars HOUSTON (Interstat) — The nation’s stingiest defense will host one of its most dynamic guards when the Houston Cougars face the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Big 12 conference matchup Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston (16-1, 4-1 Big 12) has established itself as a national title contender, with its lone loss coming in overtime against Tennessee in November. The Cougars lead the country in scoring defense, allowing just 52.2 points per game, and have won their last four contests by an average of 18.3 points. Their most recent outing was a dominant 77-48 victory over West Virginia on Tuesday. Guard Milos Uzan has been a key catalyst, averaging 13.3 points over his last six games. He led the team with 17 points against the Mountaineers. Arizona State (10-7, 2-3) arrives looking to rebound from a tough 89-82 road loss to rival Arizona on Wednesday. The Sun Devils have shown a high-powered offense at times but have struggled with consistency, particularly away from home. They will rely heavily on guard Maurice Odum, who is coming off a 23-point, 7-assist performance against the Wildcats. Over his last five games, Odum is averaging 18.4 points and 6.8 assists, serving as the focal point of the Sun Devils’ attack. The matchup pits Houston’s relentless, physical defense against an Arizona State team that can score in bunches but has surrendered an average of 90 points in its three conference losses. Slowing Odum will be a primary objective for a Houston perimeter defense that routinely smothers opponents. For the Sun Devils, the challenge is historic; they must solve a defensive unit unlike any they have faced this season to pull off a major road upset and bolster their postseason resume. Houston holds a commanding home-court advantage, having won 14 straight at Hofheinz Pavilion dating to last season. Arizona State’s last victory over a top-5 opponent came in January 2023. UP NEXT Arizona State hosts West Virginia on Wednesday. Houston travels to face Texas Tech next Saturday.