INDIANAPOLIS: Houston overcame a blown 17-point lead to hold off Oregon State 67-61 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four for the first time in 37 years. Yet it also exemplified the program’s rugged defense-first identity under Kelvin Sampson, who has led Houston to accomplishments it hadn’t matched since the famed “Phi Slama Jama” days of the 1980s. Marcus Sasser scored 20 points to lead Houston while Grimes added 18. The South Region final was a reunion of former Southwest Conference programs aiming to join another (Houston) in the Final Four. JD Notae and Davonte Davis had 14 apiece for the Razorbacks, who came up one game short of their first Final Four in 26 years.

Source: Manila Times March 30, 2021 16:18 UTC