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In Memphis, Tennessee, Houston Cougars guard Ramon Walker Jr., an alum of Shadow Creek High School, returned to the court for the first time in 32 days as his No. 1-seeded team secured a dominant 86-46 victory against the No. 16 Longwood Lancers.
Walker, who had been sidelined since February 19 due to a torn meniscus in his knee sustained during a practice on February 22, made his comeback as a bench player, entering the game at the 12:44 mark in the first half with Houston leading 13-4.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, the sophomore immediately made an impact by grabbing an offensive rebound, drawing a foul, and sinking one of his first two free throws. He also contributed with a steal and another rebound during his limited playing time.
Houston’s head coach, Kelvin Sampson, praised Walker’s energy and rebounding abilities, highlighting his significant contributions to a team that has been short-handed due to season-ending injuries to Terrance Arceneaux and Joseph Tugler, with Walker initially believed to be out for the season as well.
In addition to Walker’s return, the Cougars showcased their formidable defense by forcing Longwood into 17 turnovers. They dominated the paint, outscoring the Lancers 40-14, while also shooting an impressive 47% from beyond the arc.
L.J. Cryer and Damian Dunn both had standout performances, each scoring 17 points, while senior Damian Dunn, who typically played 17 minutes per game this season, made significant contributions off the bench. All-American guard Jamal Shead narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Houston now looks forward to an intriguing matchup against No. 9 Texas A&M in the next round. The Coogs and the Aggies, former rivals in the Southwest Conference, last met on December 16, 2024, resulting in a UH victory.
The upcoming game, scheduled for Sunday with the tip-off time yet to be announced, will determine which team advances to the Sweet Sixteen in Dallas.