INDIANAPOLIS — Houston’s relentless defense confused and harassed Tennessee and carried the Cougars into their seventh Final Four and first since 2021, with L.J. Cryer scoring 17 points in a 69-50 victory on Sunday.

Emanuel Sharp scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime for top-seeded Houston (34-4), which extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 17 games.

Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) reacts against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half during the Midwest Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2025. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Cougars had been eliminated as a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 in each of the past two years, but this time coach Kelvin Sampson’s team has a shot at the program’s first national title.

The Cougars will face Cooper Flagg and five-time national champ Duke on Saturday in San Antonio — just a 3 1/2-hour drive from campus.