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Sharp, Uzan power No. 3 Houston past Syracuse in OT
In a game that felt more like a heavyweight title fight than a November tournament opener, the No. 3 Houston Cougars, led by the hometown heroics of Milos Uzan and the clutch gene of Emanuel Sharp, survived a massive scare from Syracuse, escaping with a 78-74 overtime victory in the Players Era Festival.This wasn't just a game; it was a statement about resilience, the agony of the free throw line, and the kind of early-season drama that makes college basketball the best reality show on television. Sharp and Uzan, who each dropped a cool 26 points, were absolutely electric when it mattered most, teaming up to score all 11 of Houston's points in the extra period.Uzan, playing with the extra juice that comes from performing in front of your hometown Vegas crowd, was a maestro down the stretch, slicing through the Orange defense for six critical OT points, while Sharp, with ice in his veins, added five more to keep the Cougars' perfect 6-0 record intact. Let's be real, though—this game should never have gotten to overtime.Syracuse, playing without their leading scorer Donnie Freeman (17. 8 ppg) due to a lower-body injury, put on a gutsy performance that deserves a ton of respect.Tyler Betsey led the way with 16 points, and Kiyan Anthony, with his legendary dad Carmelo watching from the sidelines, chipped in 10. But the story of the game, the one that will haunt Orange fans for a while, was the free throw shooting.I'm not exaggerating when I say it was historically bad. Syracuse went a brutal 12-for-29 from the charity stripe.Just think about that for a second. If they had shot even a halfway respectable 70%, they likely win this game in regulation.It was a masterclass in self-sabotage, and yet, they still pushed a Houston team that was in the national championship game last April to the absolute brink. That speaks volumes about the fight in this Syracuse squad and should be a major warning sign for the rest of the country about Houston's potential vulnerability when faced with length and athleticism.Beyond the main event, the Players Era Festival was a full-blown chaos carnival, delivering one thriller after another. The most dramatic had to be No.15 Iowa State's nail-biting 83-82 win over No. 14 St.John's. Milan Momcilovic was a bucket, pouring in a game-high 23 points, but the final 30 seconds were pure March Madness in November.After a brutal turnover by Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson, St. John's had a clean look to take the lead, but Oziyah Sellers' driving layup rimmed out.Jefferson, redeeming himself immediately, iced two free throws with 9. 4 seconds left, and Zuby Ejiofor's potential game-winning three clanked off the iron at the buzzer.Meanwhile, No. 17 Tennessee looked like a buzzsaw, dismantling Rutgers 85-60 behind a scorching 32-point explosion from Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who drained six threes.The Vols shot 50% from deep and put on a clinic in both half-court execution and transition offense. Over in the Maui Invitational, Seton Hall served notice that they are a legitimate force, handing No.23 NC State its first loss of the season, 85-74. A.J. Staton-McCray was the catalyst with 22 points, as the Pirates led for all but three minutes, showcasing a balanced and efficient attack that could make them a major player in the Big East.These early-season tournaments are always a fascinating litmus test. For Houston, the takeaway is that they have the star power and toughness to win ugly, a hallmark of Kelvin Sampson's teams.But the reliance on two players in crunch time and the inability to put away a shorthanded opponent will be points of emphasis. For Syracuse, the silver lining is immense; they are clearly tougher and more talented than many anticipated, but the free-throw issue is a glaring flaw that must be fixed.And for the college basketball world, it's a reminder that preseason rankings are just a conversation starter. The real narratives are written on the court, in games like these, where heroes are made, and heartbreak is just a missed free throw away.
#featured
#Houston Cougars
#Syracuse Orange
#college basketball
#overtime
#Players Era
#undefeated
#injury
#free throws
