L.J. 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, setting the Big 12 record for consecutive road wins, on Tuesday night in Tempe, Ariz.
Mylik Wilson had 12 points and seven rebounds and J’Wan Roberts had 10 points as the Cougars (22-4, 14-1 Big 12) won their fifth straight game and 12th straight on the road in Big 12 play.
Alston Mason scored a season-high 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting and B.J. Freeman added 17 points for the Sun Devils (12-14, 3-12), who lost their sixth consecutive game and 11th in the past 13.
Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance (ankle) returned from a two-game injury absence but played just 13 minutes and didn’t score.
The Cougars never trailed and held a 36-25 rebounding edge. Houston shot 48.1 percent, including 11 of 23 from 3-point range.
The Sun Devils made 43.2 percent of their shots and were 8 of 22 from behind the arc.
Cryer knocked down two 3-pointers in 25 seconds early in the second half to give Houston a 55-34 advantage.
The Cougars rattled off seven straight points a short time later to hold a 62-39 lead with 13:04 left.
Arizona State then displayed some life with a 10-2 surge and moved within 15 on Amier Ali’s dunk with 9:42 remaining.
Sharp then buried four treys in a span of 3:15 to give Houston a 76-53 lead with 6:16 left.
The Sun Devils scored the next 11 points — Alston drained two treys during the burst — to cut the deficit to 12 with 1:42 remaining before Wilson restored order with a layup.
Cryer and Wilson each had 10 points in the first half as Houston held a 47-31 lead at the break.
Cryer drilled a 3-pointer to cap a game-opening 10-2 run for the Cougars.
Arizona State recovered to trail 15-13 on Alston’s basket with 13:28 left in the half.
Houston answered by scoring 21 of the next 30 points. Cryer hit a trey and Wilson followed with four points to end the stretch and give the Cougars a 36-22 lead with 5:06 remaining.
Houston later led by 20 after Wilson’s driving hoop with 1:22 to play.
–Field Level Media
