Health concerns have overshadowed the University of Houston 's 1-0 start at the NCAA tournament, but Cougars fans received some positive news prior to Saturday's Round of 32 game against Auburn. Senior guard Marcus Sasser suffered a groin injury during last weekend's American Athletic Conference tournament semifinals and missed the championship game, a loss to Memphis, as a result. Sasser returned to the starting lineup for the opening round of March Madness, as UH beat Northern Kentucky 63-52 . But he only played 14 minutes, registering five points and two rebounds, and did not see the floor in the second half. The television broadcast and the team's official Twitter account reported Sasser had "aggravated" his groin issue, though Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was adamant when speaking with the media Friday that he "did not reinjure himself." This, coupled with comments from Sasser—as well as point guard Jamal Shead, who is dealing with "a bad knee" —should lift the … [Read more...] about Injury update: Will Marcus Sasser play for Houston vs. Auburn?
Auburn
Houston’s dominant second half over Auburn propels Cougars to Sweet 16
close Video Fox News Flash top sports headlines for March 18 Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Marcus Sasser looked just fine, scoring 22 points, and top-seeded Houston stifled local favorite Auburn in the second half for an 81-64 victory in the NCAA Tournament Saturday night. The Cougars (33-3) overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, returning after the break with a chip on their shoulders. Essentially shutting down the lane, Houston played with the desperation of a national championship contender that wasn't ready to suffer the same fate as Purdue and Kansas — No. 1s that already were sent home. Led by Tramon Mark with 26 points, Houston advanced to face either No. 4 Indiana or No. 5 Miami, which play Sunday, in the Sweet 16 in Kansas City, Missouri. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Tramon Mark of the Houston Cougars reacts … [Read more...] about Houston’s dominant second half over Auburn propels Cougars to Sweet 16
NCAA tournament: Houston’s Sweet 16 opponent is set
The University of Houston secured its fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 after blowing out Auburn on Saturday in the Round of 32. UH overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to beat the Tigers 81-64 , as junior guard Tramon Mark scored a career-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds. The victory marked the Cougars' 33rd of the season, matching the 2018-19 group for the most in school history. They'll have a chance to break the record this weekend in Kansas City. Houston is set to face Miami—which moved on with a win over Indiana on Sunday night—in the Sweet 16. The game will be played Friday night at the T-Mobile Center. The tipoff time was not immediately available, though Friday's slate of games is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. CT. Here's a quick look at how the two teams match up against each other. Houston Cougars Seed: No. 1 Miami Hurricanes Seed: No. 5 Betting odds Houston opened as a 7 1/2-point favorite on Draftkings Sportsbook, while … [Read more...] about NCAA tournament: Houston’s Sweet 16 opponent is set
Northwestern takes down Boise State to advance in March Madness
close Video Fox News Flash top sports headlines for March 16 Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Boo Buie scored 22 points to lead Northwestern to a win in the school's second appearance ever in the NCAA Tournament, 75-67 over Boise State on Thursday. The seventh-seeded Wildcats (22-11) previously made it to the Big Dance in 2017, and just like that time, they made sure they wouldn't be one-and-done. Northwestern never trailed in a game that was close most of the way and advanced to play either UCLA or UNC Asheville in the second round of the West Region. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Boo Buie #0 of the Northwestern Wildcats huddles with the team during the first half of a game against the Boise State Broncos in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 16, 2023 in Sacramento, California. … [Read more...] about Northwestern takes down Boise State to advance in March Madness
No. 15 seed Princeton uses late run to stun 2 seed Arizona
By The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Langborg lifted Princeton to its first lead with 2:03 to play and the Tigers used a late-game run to earn their first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, topping No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 on Thursday. The 15th-seeded Tigers (22-9) scored the final nine points, holding the Pac-12 Tournament champion scoreless over the final 4:43. Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 points in Princeton’s first tournament victory since beating UNLV in 1998 when current coach Mitch Henderson was a player for the Tigers. Princeton advanced to play seventh-seeded Missouri in the second round of the South Region. Azuolas Tubelis scored 22 points for the Wildcats (28-7), who haven’t won a tournament game in consecutive years since 2014-15. It marked the third straight year and 11th time overall that a No. 15 seed won a first-round game. Arizona is the only school to be on the wrong end of one of those upsets twice, also losing to Steve Nash and Santa … [Read more...] about No. 15 seed Princeton uses late run to stun 2 seed Arizona
‘Manon Lescaut’ at the Met Opera: A Courtesan in Need of Context
Vocally the revival of Puccini’s “ Manon Lescaut ,” which opened at the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, is ravishing. It’s almost enough to make sense of Richard Eyre’s problematic production of this already dramatically inconsistent work. The soprano Anna Netrebko sang the title role for the first time at this house. She gave a bravura performance that included searing intensity and coquettish whim, often welded together in a single scene. A glint of steel was already apparent in her first appearance as a convent-bound ingénue simmering with suppressed passion. In Act II, when she has become the kept woman of a wealthy man and tries to smother her unhappiness with pearls and powder puffs, vulnerability trembled beneath the surface of the bored sex kitten. That the role of Manon should suit Ms. Netrebko at this point in her career, where her voice has gained alluring earthiness in the low register while maintaining the rainbow hues of her powerful top notes, should come as no … [Read more...] about ‘Manon Lescaut’ at the Met Opera: A Courtesan in Need of Context
