Kansas clamps down on fifth-ranked Houston in dominant defensive performance

Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council, and Tre White lead the Jayhawks to a 61-46 victory over the Cougars

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks used a dominant defensive effort to defeat the No. 5 Houston Cougars 61-46 on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse. Darryn Peterson had 14 points, while Melvin Council and Tre White also made key contributions to the Jayhawks' victory. Kansas led by as many as 20 points and held Houston to just 31.8% shooting from the field.

Why it matters

This win is a significant boost for the Jayhawks, who are looking to solidify their position in the Big 12 standings. The Cougars, on the other hand, have now lost three straight games since January 2017, raising questions about their ability to maintain their high ranking.

The details

The Jayhawks led by as many as 20 points and used a 12-0 run in the second half to take control of the game. Tre White led Kansas with 23 points, while Melvin Council and Bryson Tiller chipped in 11 points each. Houston star freshman Kingston Flemings was the only Cougar in double figures, scoring 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting.

  • The Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) defeated the Cougars (23-5, 11-4) on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
  • Kansas moved to 41-0 on Big Monday under head coach Bill Self.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A key player for the Kansas Jayhawks, who had 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes of play.

Melvin Council

A Kansas player who contributed 11 points to the Jayhawks' victory.

Tre White

The leading scorer for Kansas, with 23 points in the game.

Kingston Flemings

A freshman star for the Houston Cougars, who scored 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting.

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, who has led the team to a 41-0 record on Big Monday.

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The takeaway

Kansas' dominant defensive performance against a highly ranked Houston team showcases the Jayhawks' ability to compete at the highest level in the Big 12 conference. The win also raises questions about Houston's recent struggles and their ability to maintain their ranking as the season progresses.