Cenac’s Double-Double Helps #5 Men’s Basketball Past Kansas

Friday, March 13

T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, Mo.

8:30 p.m.

University of Houston

28-5,14-4Big 12

Kansas

23-10,12-6Big 12

Kansas

Houston

Photo by: USA Today Sports Images

Cenac’s Double-Double Helps #5 Men’s Basketball Past Kansas

3/13/2026 12:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights (YouTube)Postgame Press Conference (YouTube)Game Book (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in rout of Jayhawks

Chris Cenac Jr., Recap Graphic vs. Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Freshman guard Kingston Flemings scored 21 points, freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and a career-high14 rebounds, and the fifth-ranked University of Houston Men's Basketball team rolled past #14/16 (3) Kansas 69-47 during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Semifinals inside T-Mobile Center on Friday night.

The second-seeded Cougars (28-5) held the Jayhawks without a field goal for more than 10 minutes at a point in the game, ultimately breezing into another championship matchup with #2/2 (1) Arizona on Saturday night.

Houston beat the Wildcats 72-64 last year for its first Big 12 Tournament title.

Darryn Peterson had 14 points to lead the Jayhawks (23-10), who had beaten the Cougars in their only regular-season matchup. But the Jayhawks were a whole lot better that night in Allen Fieldhouse than they were at T-Mobile Center, where they were 6-for-31 from the field in the second half and shot 24.6% overall in their lowest-scoring game of the season.

With the relentless defense that's become a hallmark of Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars controlled the game right from the start, making things especially difficult for Kansas big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the paint.

Most of the Jayhawks' offense came from Peterson as he had 12 at the break.

Things really unraveled for Kansas in the second half, though.

Houston forced Bill Self's team into missing its first 16 shots while going on a 22-2 run of its own spanning halftime. Even the bucket that mercifully ended the drought, a dunk by Bidunga with 10:42 to go, nearly rattled its way back out of the basket.

Houston led 51-31 at that point before coasting into its second consecutive championship game and the 19^th in school history.

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UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars will wait to learn their postseason destination during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. That show will air on CBS.
• Fans are invited to watch the show with Coach Kelvin Sampson and the team during the Coogs Selection Sunday Fan Fest and Watch Party hosted by LinkingCoogs. The fun begins at 3 p.m., inside Fertitta Center with a variety of games and activities throughout the arena. Fans can purchase Fan Fest and Watch Party tickets by clicking here. FREE parking will be available in the Stadium Garage off Holman Street across from the Fertitta Center, courtesy of UH Parking and Transportation Services.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app, Sirius XM Radio and ESPN Radio.

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Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

– UHCougars.com –