Top freshman Kingston Flemings scores 25, Emanuel Sharp has 23 as No. 10 Houston beats TCU 79-70

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Houston guard Kingston Flemings, left, works the floor against TCU guard Jayden Pierre during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

TCU guard Jayden Pierre, right, drives against Houston forward Joseph Tugler during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) — Houston guard Kingston Flemings, left, works the floor against TCU guard Jayden Pierre during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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11:45 PM on Wednesday, January 28

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Houston freshman Kingston Flemings scored 25 points, Emanuel Sharp had 23 and the 10th-ranked Cougars overcame an extended shooting slump in a 79-70 win at TCU on Wednesday night.

The Cougars (18-2, 6-1 Big 12) trailed only once, by one point 2 1/2 minutes into the game, and began the second half with a 15-point lead. But they missed their last four shots before halftime, then 11 of 13 out of the break. There was a more than five-minute gap between jumpers by Flemings while TCU got within two points.

Flemings, who had his ninth 20-point game and matched his second highest-scoring game, was coming off 42 points in a 90-86 loss at now-No. 11 Texas Tech on Saturday that ended the Cougars' 16-game winning streak in true road games, which was a Big 12 and school record. Houston had also won 11 in a row overall.

Chris Cenac Jr. had eight points and 14 rebounds for the Cougars, who finished shooting 44.4% overall (25 of 54) after they made 16 of 22 to start the game.

Xavier Edmonds had 18 points and 10 rebounds for TCU (13-8, 3-5). David Punch had 16 points and six assists.

Houston created some distance with a late 8-0 run. Flemings kicked out to Ramon Walker for a 3-pointer before the freshman guard made four free throws in that stretch.

The Cougars never trailed after a 12-0 run midway through the first half that broke the game's only tie. They led 28-16 when Chase McCarty hit a long 3 that banked off the glass, though the forward immediately went toward the bench holding his left wrist though there was no contact. He never returned to the game, and had a brace on his hand afterward.

Up next

Houston hosts Cincinnati on Saturday, the Cougars' first home game in 13 days.

TCU plays Sunday at Colorado.

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