Overview
- Houston moved to 4-0 with a one-point win at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, dropping Auburn to 3-1.
- The Cougars controlled the glass 40-37 and produced 34 points in the paint with 12 fast-break baskets, countering Auburn’s second-half surge.
- Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall scored 20 before leaving late with a foot injury, and his status remains to be determined.
- Freshman Kingston Flemings led Houston early with 18 first-half points, while Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan provided key second-half buckets.
- The closing sequence featured two Houston blocks on Tahaad Pettiford and a broken-up final lob at the horn, after UH bigs Chris Cenac Jr. and Joseph Tugler had fouled out; Auburn also missed 12 free throws (64%).