KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Milos Uzan poured in 25 points, Emanuel Sharp added 17 and second-ranked Houston turned up its trademark defense in the final minute to hold on for a 72-64 victory over Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament championship game Saturday night.
Playing without injured big man J'Wan Roberts, the Cougars took a 64-62 lead on Uzan's 3-pointer with 5 minutes to go, then suffocated the Wildcats (22-12) down the stretch to avenge a loss to Iowa State in last year's title game.
Houston romped to the regular-season Big 12 title, winning 19 of 20 games in the expanded league.