Houston Cougars Defeat Kansas Jayhawks, Advance to Big 12 Championship

Freshman duo of Flemings and Cenac Jr. lead Cougars to dominant 69-47 victory

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:49am

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The No. 5 Houston Cougars defeated the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks 69-47 in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, advancing to the championship game against No. 2 Arizona. Freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. led the way for Houston, with Flemings scoring 21 points and Cenac Jr. recording a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Cougars' stifling defense held Kansas to a season-low 47 points.

Why it matters

This victory sets up a highly anticipated rematch between Houston and Arizona in the Big 12 Championship game. Houston is seeking to defend its tournament title from last year, while the Wildcats will be looking to avenge their regular-season loss to the Cougars. The outcome of this championship game could have significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding and potential deep runs.

The details

The semifinal matchup took place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with a tip-off time of 8:30 p.m. CT. The game was broadcast on ESPN, with streaming options available through ESPN+. Houston's impressive win was largely fueled by the outstanding performances of freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. The Cougars' stifling defense also played a crucial role, holding Kansas to a season-low 47 points. The Jayhawks struggled offensively, shooting just 24.6% from the field, including a dismal 6-for-31 in the second half.

  • The semifinal matchup took place on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • The Big 12 Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Kingston Flemings

A freshman for the Houston Cougars who led all scorers with 21 points in the semifinal victory.

Chris Cenac Jr.

A freshman for the Houston Cougars who contributed a strong double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Darryn Peterson

The leading scorer for the Kansas Jayhawks with 14 points in the semifinal loss.

Houston Cougars

The No. 5 ranked team in the country that defeated Kansas to advance to the Big 12 Championship game.

Kansas Jayhawks

The No. 14 ranked team in the country that was defeated by Houston in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Houston and Arizona will face off in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

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