The blue-wearing Cougars did not make much of a case for improving their seeding in the Big Dance next week in front of a pro-BYU crowd at T-Mobile Center, starting the contest as poorly as could be imagined.

Emanuel Sharpe scored 26 points, LJ Cryer had 20 and second-ranked Houston stifled No. 17 BYU in a 74-54 victory that moved the Cougars into the Big 12 Tournament championship game for the second consecutive season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Emanuel Sharpe scored 26 points, LJ Cryer had 20 and second-ranked Houston stifled No. 17 BYU in a 74-54 victory Friday night that moved the Cougars into the Big 12 Tournament championship game for the second consecutive season.