The Houston Cougars continue their dominant streak under Kelvin Sampson as they make it past the Texas A&M Aggies in the second round of March Madness in an overtime thriller.
Fans who watched this second-round game understand how big of a win this was as there were moments throughout the game where it seemed like they were bound to bow out early in the tournament for the first time in a while.
The way Coach Sampson reacted to the overtime win was a clear indicator of how important the win was for the entire team.
Kelvin Sampson goes wild after Houston Cougars outlast Texas A&M Aggies in OT thriller
It was a tense time for the Cougars faithful when Anderson Garcia managed to sink a triple to force the game to overtime. Things didn’t bid well for the Cougars as the tournament already saw multiple upsets that captured the public’s imagination.
However, the team was able to keep its collective cool to win, 96-100. Sampson, who has transformed the program to its winning ways ever since his arrival in 2014, celebrated in the only way he knew how: wildly.
The way he was throwing his fists repeatedly made it clear to the fans—including beloved sportscaster Jim Nantz—how important the win was.
Emmanuel Sharp ensured the Houston Cougars would not be heading home early. The sophomore’s 30 points, while shooting at an impressive 7-for-14 from three-point land, made sure that Houston’s run through this year’s tournament will not fall short of their finishes in previous seasons.
Will the Houston Cougars finally break through to the finals?
The Cougars have become March Madness fixtures ever since 2017, with their only year being out of it in 2020.
The team’s best year under Sampson was in 2021 when they made the Final Four. They beat UAB, Illinois, and Arizona before falling short to Villanova in a low-scoring affair.
Sampson’s Cougars have a decent shot at making it to the championship game with their current roster. Aside from Sharp, LJ Cryer, Jamal Shead, and J’Wan Roberts have been solid contributors to the team’s 31-4 record.
Things won’t be any easier as they have Duke up next in the Sweet 16. However, this game shows just how determined the Cougars are in winning the national title.
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