The Houston Cougars defeated the San Diego State Aztecs, 67-65 on Thursday, March 15 in the Round of 64 of March Madness. San Diego State covered the spread as four-point underdogs while the game went under the total of 142.5.
The Cougars will move on to face Michigan or Montana in the Round of 32. Odds for that matchup will soon be released soon, but we anticipate Houston being a six- or seven-point underdog if Michigan is the opponent, and a 12- or 13-point favorite if Montana is the opponent.
Rob Gray scored 39 points to lead the Cougars on Thursday. He engaged in a memorable one-on-one duel with San Diego State’s Devin Watson in the final 65 seconds as the Cougars endured the Aztecs push. With Houston leading 62-59, Watson tied the game for the Aztecs with a three-point shot with 1:03 left. Gray then put Houston up 65-62 with a three of his own with 39 seconds left. Watson answered with yet another triple to tie the game at 65 near the 30-second mark, and then Gray – taking his man to the right side of the basket, spun in a layup just over the rim with 1.1 seconds left to give Houston the lead for good. San Diego State had to go 94 feet in 1.1 seconds and generated an open three-point look at the buzzer, but the shot missed. Houston survived. This is the Cougars’ first NCAA Tournament win since 1984.
A key stat: San Diego State left 14 points at the free throw line, making only 21 of 35 attempts.
Houston’s odds to win the NCAA Tournament were considerably remote, with BetDSI Sportsbook pegging the Cougars at +15000 to cut down the nets in San Antonio. Those odds might improve to 14000 once the Round of 64 ends. Houston’s next opponent is still to be determined, but if it is third-seeded Michigan, the Wolverines have +1000 odds to win March Madness, fifth-best of the 68 teams which entered the NCAA Tournament.
