Houston Survives a Red Raider Scare: Kingston Flemings Plays Hero In Fertitta Thriller
If you like your basketball with a side of cardiac arrest, Tuesday night at the Fertitta Center was exactly what the doctor didn’t order. In a game that felt more like a heavyweight boxing match than a collegiate hoop session, the No. 7 Houston Cougars managed to claw their way past the No. 14 Texas Tech Red Raiders, 69-65. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t easy, but in the Big 12, style points don’t get you into March.
A Tale Of Two Halves (And a Lot of Sweat)
For a while there, it looked like the Red Raiders were going to pull off the heist of the century. Texas Tech, walking into one of the most hostile environments in college basketball, didn’t just show up; they kicked the door down.
The first half was a defensive stalemate, the kind of grind-it-out basketball that makes purists weep tears of joy and casual fans switch to Netflix. Both teams headed into the locker room knotted up at 31-31. Jaylen Petty was cooking for Tech, dropping 14 points in the first 20 minutes and making the rim look like the size of a hula hoop from deep. Meanwhile, Houston looked mortal. They were getting bullied in the paint, missing bunnies, and generally looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.
The Red Raiders Strike Back
The second half started, and suddenly, the Red Raiders decided they weren’t interested in a participation trophy. They came out swinging. With under eight minutes left, Tech was holding a 55-51 lead, thanks to some absolutely cold-blooded shooting from Donovan Atwell. The man was hitting threes from different area codes, silencing the rowdy Fertitta crowd so effectively you could hear a sneaker squeak.
At this point, you could feel the tension in the arena. Houston fans were looking at each other with that specific “are we really doing this?” panic. Tech was capitalizing on turnovers, controlling the tempo, and frankly, out-toughing the toughest team in the league. It looked like Grant McCasland had the perfect game plan to hand Kelvin Sampson a rare home loss.
Enter the Freshman Phenom
But then, Kingston Flemings decided he was done with the drama. With the game on the line and the clock ticking down, the freshman didn’t just step up; he took over. We’re talking Michael Jordan “Flu Game” vibes, but without the pizza. With 30 seconds left and the game hanging in the balance, Flemings pulled up for a three-pointer that had “bad shot” written all over it—until it swished. The arena exploded.
He wasn’t done, either. He followed that up with a fadeaway jumper that was just disrespectful to the laws of physics. Flemings finished with a game-high 23 points, putting the team on his young back when the veterans were struggling to find a rhythm. It was the kind of performance that turns a freshman into a campus legend overnight.
Defensive Clamps and Missed Opportunities
It wasn’t just the Flemings show, though. Houston’s defense, which had been leaky at times, finally tightened the screws in the last two minutes. They forced Tech into bad looks, contested every dribble, and reminded everyone why they’re ranked No. 7 in the nation.
On the flip side, Texas Tech will be kicking themselves on the bus ride back to Lubbock. They had this game. They led 59-57 deep in the second half but let it slip through their fingers like wet soap. Costly turnovers and a sudden inability to buy a bucket in the final four minutes doomed them. They fought valiantly, but “almost” doesn’t count in the standings.
What This Means for the Big 12 Race
This game was a perfect advertisement for Big 12 basketball: physical, intense, and unpredictable. For Houston, it’s a “survive and advance” moment. They didn’t play their best; they shot a dismal 24% from three, but they found a way to win. That’s what elite teams do.
For Texas Tech, it’s a moral victory that stings like a loss. They proved they can hang with the big dogs on the road, but they need to learn how to close out games against elite competition. Jaylen Petty’s 20 points were impressive, but they needed just one or two more plays down the stretch.
In the end, the Houston Cougars defended their home court, the Red Raiders proved they’re for real, and college basketball fans got a Tuesday night thriller. Just another day at the office in the Big 12.
