Houston's LJ Cryer falls short in bid to win NCAA titles at 2 schools in finale vs. Florida

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LJ Cryer knows the thrill that comes only with winning a national championship from his time as a spot-duty freshman at Baylor.

His shot at history with a second title fell just short as Houston lost to Florida, 65-63, in Monday night's NCAA championship game.

Cryer was playing his fifth college season as the leading scorer for Houston. A win would have made Cryer the first player to win titles at two schools, though this time without the COVID-19 backdrop of 2021.

Cryer is one of three players to take the court on college basketball's biggest stage at the Alamodome with Final Four experience from another school. Duke's Mason Gillis was one after helping Purdue reach last year's NCAA final, while Florida guard Alijah Martin was part of Florida Atlantic's semifinalist in 2023.

But Cryer's Bears actually hoisted the trophy, a path that included a Final Four rout of Houston and future teammate J'Wan Roberts. The only downer was the fact he played just eight minutes through three NCAA games, two coming against the Cougars and then one with victory assured in the finale against Gonzaga.

“I did get to sit there and see what it takes to win those type of games,” Cryer said before the title game.

The 6-foot-1 senior went on to play two more seasons at Baylor before moving to Houston, a Lone Star State transfer with Cryer looking for a different fit and offensive role.

Averaging a team-best 15.6 points, Cryer has come through with two big performances in the NCAA Tournament so far, first with 30 points in a tight second-round battle against Gonzaga. Then came Saturday's win over the Blue Devils, with Cryer scoring 26 points and hitting six 3-pointers — with several of those coming as Houston tried desperately to hang around.

“Our best leader, so LJ helps us get through hard times,” Houston forward Joseph Tugler said. “So I know (if) I got LJ, I've got nothing to worry about.”

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said the Cougars recruited Cryer as an instate prospect out of Katy, describing him as a “bucket-getter in high school” who had thrived despite being a small guard. Perhaps that had him prepared to test a Duke team that had every player in its primary rotation standing 6-5 or taller, too.

“Our best player, the guy that kept us in the game, was LJ,” Sampson said. “He kept us in touch with them. So when the time came, we had an opportunity to get the lead down where we could put some game pressure on them. LJ was the guy.”

Regardless of the outcome, Cryer at least got the full experience of playing for the national championship. That 2021 run came amid constant COVID-19 testing, limited crowds and hotel sequestration — leaving Sampson to say Thursday anyone in that Indianapolis bubble “got cheated out of the experience.”

“We had to stand in line to get tested before every time we went outside the building to come in," Sampson said. "It felt like we were going out to the yard in prison because they took us over to (a minor-league baseball stadium) to let us run around on the grass.

"Somebody had the great idea of: ‘Go get a football or horseshoes or something.’ What do you want us to do? Look around and see how we can break out of this place? That was a different time.”

Cryer recalls those days well.

“We stayed in that one spot the whole time in that hotel," he said. “We weren't able to go outside but for like 30 minutes. We had kind of like recess time. It was a way different, an experience for sure.”

Everything was different this time, down to Cryer's leading role as he finished with 19 points against the Gators. It seems likely others will have the chance to accomplish the feat in a time of freer player movement through the transfer portal.

“If someone else wins, I would hope they stay,” Cryer said with a chuckle. "I hope they stay at the school. I don't wish anyone to transfer to go win a ring. Hopefully they can stick it out and go win it wherever they're at. It's definitely cool to make history at two different schools, but if I could've done it at the same school, I'd have preferably done it that way. But my journey's my journey.”

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Houston's L.J. Cryer covers his face as he leaves the court after Florida beat Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Houston's L.J. Cryer (4) has his shot blocked by Florida's Thomas Haugh (10) during the second half in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Houston's L.J. Cryer (4) reacts after Houston lost to Florida in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Houston's L.J. Cryer (4) celebrates with teammates after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Houston guard L.J. Cryer speaks during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston guard L.J. Cryer smiles with forward J'Wan Roberts during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Keyonte George scored 32 points, Lauri Markkanen added 28 and the Utah Jazz bounced back after a 55-point loss and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-112 Monday night.

George had 16 points during the third quarter, when Utah rallied from a 10-point deficit and regained control and began its five-game road trip with a victory. George also was 12 of 12 at the free throw line and had nine assists.

The win was the Jazz’s second in their past eight games and came two nights after a 150-95 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the second-largest by scoring margin in franchise history and the biggest since they moved from New Orleans in 1979.

Markkanen, 10th in the league in scoring at 27.8 points per game, also had 12 rebounds. Jusuf Nurkik, who missed the last two games due to a toe injury, had 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points and Donovan Mitchell scored 21. The Cavaliers have dropped two of three.

PACERS 98, CELTICS 96

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 21 points, including the decisive 7-foot bank shot with 6.1 seconds remaining, and Indiana won three straight games for the first time this season, beating Boston.

Boston’s Derrick White missed a go-ahead 3-point attempt in the final seconds. He had tied the game at 96-all on a driving layup with 28.6 seconds remaining.

Siakam pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through in the final seconds. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.

The Pacers began the night with the NBA’s worst record but improved to 9-31, one-half game better than the New Orleans Pelicans. They were without forward Bennedict Mathurin (17.8 points per game), sidelined by a thumb injury for a fifth consecutive game.

Jay Huff had 20 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Pacers.

Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points and eight assists. White had 18 points and Anfernee Simons 16.

76ERS 115, RAPTORS 102

TORONTO (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid had 27 and Philadelphia used an 80-point first half to beat Toronto.

VJ Edgecombe and Paul George each scored 15 points as the 76ers bounced back from Sunday’s overtime loss to Toronto to win for the sixth time in eight games.

Embiid (left knee and left groin) and George (left knee) were back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday.

Fans chanted “We want Lowry!” in the fourth quarter, then rose for a standing ovation when former Raptors player Kyle Lowry checked in for Maxey with 1:57 left to play.

Lowry starred for the Toronto team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He airballed a 3-pointer on his first attempt and missed all three shots he took.

Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points and Brandon Ingram had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points for Toronto.

MAVERICKS 113, NETS 105

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and matched a season high with three steals, and Naji Marshall had three straight baskets down the stretch and finished with 22 points as Dallas beat Brooklyn.

The Mavericks (15-25) snapped a two-game skid. Klay Thompson scored 18 off the bench and matched a season high with six 3-pointers.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points and Day’Ron Sharpe had 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Nets (11-26), who have lost four consecutive games. They were swept in a road back-to-back, losing 103-98 at Memphis on Sunday.

KINGS 124, LAKERS 112

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) —Malik Monk made seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help Sacramento Kings to a win over Los Angeles.

DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and six assists for the Kings (10-30), who won their second straight after a seven-game skid. Russell Westbrook, who played 78 games for the Lakers in 2023, added 22 points and seven assists.

It was the Kings’ first home win against the Lakers since March 13, 2024.

Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 42 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. It was the seventh 40-point game of the season for the NBA’s leading scorer.

LeBron James had 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting that included missing all five attempts from 3-point distance.

DeAndre Ayton scored 13 points to reach 7,000 for his career. Jaxson Hayes added 12 points for the Lakers (23-11), who have lost two straight since winning three in a row.

CLIPPERS 117, HORNETS 109

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points and James Harden had 32 to move into ninth place on the NBA’s career scoring list, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Charlotte for their fourth win in five games.

Jordan Miller added 14 points and Ivica Zubac had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.

LaMelo Ball had 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Hornets in their third loss in four games. Kon Knueppel scored 18 points, Moussa Diabaté had 13 points and 15 rebounds, Brandon Miller also scored 13 and Miles Bridges 11.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) blocks a shot by Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)