Houston guard Taze Moore (4) scored 21 factors within the staff's March Insanity win over Illinois on Sunday.
AP
PITTSBURGH — Taze Moore scored 21 factors, Jamal Shead added 18 and Houston, a Remaining 4 staff final season, superior to the Candy 16 of the NCAA Match with a 68-53 win Sunday over Illinois, ousted within the opening weekend for the second straight yr.
The fifth-seeded Cougars (31-5), who misplaced their two finest gamers to season-ending accidents, are headed residence to Texas for the subsequent spherical, which might be in San Antonio, a few three-hour drive from Houston.
Kyler Edwards added 15 factors for Houston, a staff typically ignored however making main noise once more this March.
With Houston’s followers chanting “Candy 16, Candy 16” within the ultimate seconds, Edwards dropped one final 3-pointer and seconds later lifted Moore, one other of Houston’s transfers, off the ground.
For Illinois, it’s one other yr of deep disappointment. The fourth-seeded Preventing Illini (23-10) have been decided to go farther after being bumped by Loyola Chicago final yr, however couldn’t get previous the second spherical once more.
All-American middle Kofi Cockburn did his half, scoring 19 in 38 minutes to guide Illinois. The large man spurned the NBA final yr for a shot at some event redemption, solely to return up brief in what was seemingly his final faculty sport.
Down by 12 within the first half, Illinois battled again and was inside 56-49 after Alfonso Plummer’s four-point play.
However after Shead hit a floater, Houston’s Fabian White Jr. made the play of the sport by racing into the backcourt and swatting the ball earlier than it went out of bounds together with his left hand to Moore for a layup.
It’s been that form of season for the Cougars, who misplaced Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark — two mainstays from final yr’s semifinal staff — however are considered one of 16 groups nonetheless alive for a nationwide title.
Each groups have been tight within the early going, and the extreme strain appeared to squeeze the edges a bit tighter, too.
In contrast to Friday’s sport, when Houston began six of seven on 3-pointers to startle UAB, the Cougars have been off the mark — in some instances, manner off. Illinois was even worse, beginning 1 of 9 on 3s.
The larger problem, although, was the Illini couldn’t determine tips on how to get the ball inside to Cockburn, who had two and three Houston gamers swarming on him each time he acquired a contact. On one of many uncommon events the 7-footer acquired it cleanly, Josh Carlton grabbed his arms and was known as for a Flagrant 1 foul.
Houston opened a 12-point lead, and Illinois was reeling.
That’s when coach Brad Underwood turned to freshman reserve Luke Goode, who got here off the bench and made a pair of 3-pointers.
Trent Frazier’s nailed a 3 on the horn to tug the Illini inside 30-26 at half.
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