Kansas Jayhawks Defeat Houston Cougars 69-56
Monday, February 23, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas Jayhawks 69, Houston Cougars 56, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Houston Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks?
Kansas Jayhawks beat Houston Cougars 69-56 at Allen Fieldhouse on February 23, 2026.
Who was favored in Houston Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks?
Houston Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive victory, the Kansas Jayhawks triumphed over the Houston Cougars with a final score of 69-56 at Allen Fieldhouse. This matchup was significant as it showcased two strong teams in the NCAAB league, with Kansas holding a home record of 21-7 and Houston boasting an away record of 23-5. Kansas had been struggling recently, entering the game with an 8-2 record over their last ten games but on a one-game losing streak after falling to the Cincinnati Bearcats just days prior. They averaged 75.3 points scored and allowed 70.0 points during this stretch. Houston, on the other hand, had a 7-3 record in their last ten games, but they were also on a two-game losing streak, having lost to Arizona and Iowa State. The Cougars averaged 77.7 points scored and allowed 66.7 points during their recent form.
At home, Kansas had a solid record of 4-1 in their last five games, while Houston's away performance was slightly less impressive at 3-2. The two teams had met previously twice in the 2025 season, with Kansas losing both encounters, including a close 86-92 loss at home. The injury report did not indicate any significant absences that would have impacted either team's performance in this game.
The betting market, provided by DraftKings, had Houston favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 138.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, but Kansas's strong home advantage ultimately played a crucial role in their victory.
The game conditions were typical for a late February evening, with a lively atmosphere in Allen Fieldhouse, known for its passionate fans. Kansas took control early, leveraging their home court advantage, and maintained their lead throughout the game. Key scoring plays in the second half included a series of three-pointers and decisive jump shots that kept Houston at bay, despite their attempts to rally back. Kingston Flemings and Bryson Tiller were notable contributors for Kansas, making significant shots that helped to solidify their lead.
Overall, this victory not only marked a crucial win for Kansas but also highlighted the challenges Houston faced in overcoming their recent struggles. The Jayhawks' ability to perform well at home proved to be the difference in this matchup.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOU -2.5 | 138.5 o -108 / u -112 | Houston Cougars -148 · Kansas Jayhawks +124 |
Leaders
- PointsTre White23Kansas Jayhawks
- AssistsMelvin Council Jr.4Kansas Jayhawks
- ReboundsBryson Tiller10Kansas Jayhawks
- PointsKingston Flemings16Houston Cougars
- AssistsMilos Uzan3Houston Cougars
- ReboundsChris Cenac Jr.7Houston Cougars
Recent form
Kansas Jayhawks
Last 10: 8-2Streak L175.3 scored · 70 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L68-84vs Cincinnati BearcatsFeb 21
- W81-69at Oklahoma State CowboysFeb 19
- L56-74at Iowa State CyclonesFeb 14
- W82-78vs Arizona WildcatsFeb 10
- W71-59vs Utah UtesFeb 7
- W64-61at Texas Tech Red RaidersFeb 3
- W90-82vs BYU CougarsJan 31
- W86-62at Kansas State WildcatsJan 25
- W75-69at Colorado BuffaloesJan 21
- W80-62vs Baylor BearsJan 17
Houston Cougars
Last 10: 7-3Streak L277.7 scored · 66.7 allowed per game3-2 away
- L66-73vs Arizona WildcatsFeb 21
- L67-70at Iowa State CyclonesFeb 17
- W78-64vs Kansas State WildcatsFeb 14
- W66-52at Utah UtesFeb 11
- W77-66at BYU CougarsFeb 8
- W79-55vs UCF KnightsFeb 5
- W76-54vs Cincinnati BearcatsJan 31
- W79-70at TCU Horned FrogsJan 29
- L86-90at Texas Tech Red RaidersJan 24
- W103-73vs Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 18
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Houston Cougars | Kansas Jayhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-66 | 22-50 |
| Field goal % | 32 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 5-24 | 7-17 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 41 |
| Free throws | 9-9 | 18-20 |
| Free throw % | 100 | 90 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 31 |
| Assists | 7 | 11 |
| Steals | 6 | 3 |
| Blocks | 3 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 24 |
| Fouls | 14 | 9 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 37 | 58 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-24Tre White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half27-27Tre White makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 1st Half27-28Melvin Council Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half27-29Melvin Council Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half27-31Darryn Peterson makes 5-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half28-31Joseph Tugler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half29-31Joseph Tugler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half29-33Bryson Tiller makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Melvin Council Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half32-33Emanuel Sharp makes 25-foot three point jumper (Milos Uzan assists)
- 2nd Half32-35Melvin Council Jr. makes 1-foot dunk (Tre White assists)
- 2nd Half32-37Tre White makes layup
- 2nd Half35-37Chris Cenac Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Milos Uzan assists)
- 2nd Half35-39Melvin Council Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half35-40Melvin Council Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half35-41Bryson Tiller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-42Bryson Tiller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-45Tre White makes 23-foot three point jumper (Melvin Council Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half35-46Bryson Tiller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-48Melvin Council Jr. makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half35-49Bryson Tiller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-49Kalifa Sakho makes 7-foot hook shot (Emanuel Sharp assists)
- 2nd Half39-49Kingston Flemings makes 11-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half39-52Darryn Peterson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Flory Bidunga assists)
- 2nd Half39-54Flory Bidunga makes layup
- 2nd Half39-57Tre White makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jamari McDowell assists)
- 2nd Half40-57Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-57Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-59Tre White makes layup (Flory Bidunga assists)
- 2nd Half41-60Tre White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-61Tre White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-61Mercy Miller makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-61Kingston Flemings makes layup
- 2nd Half46-61Kingston Flemings makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half48-61Kingston Flemings makes layup
- 2nd Half48-64Jamari McDowell makes 25-foot three point jumper (Darryn Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half51-64Mercy Miller makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half51-67Darryn Peterson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Melvin Council Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half54-67Kingston Flemings makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half54-69Bryson Tiller makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half56-69Chris Cenac Jr. makes 12-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Kansas Jayhawks, below favours Houston Cougars.
Venue
- Allen FieldhouseLawrence, KS
- Attendance15300
- OfficialsRon Groover, Kipp Kissinger, Doug Sirmons
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