OKLAHOMA CITY — What could be better than two Lone Star State rivals facing off Saturday for the right to return home and play in the Sweet 16?
Texas A&M basketball, the 10 seed, is set to face two-seeded Houston, with the winner moving on to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, hosted in Space City.
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The Aggies defeated seventh-seeded Saint Mary’s 63-50 Thursday, never trailing in the game. Similarly, the Cougars thrashed 15-seeded Idaho 78-47.
MORE: Texas A&M got defensive to put away St. Mary’s in NCAA first-round win
Mercy Miller (25) of Houston dunks the ball during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against Idaho held at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Photo by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
A&M and Houston have met 86 times since 1950, most of those games as rivals in the Southwest Conference. Their latest game was an overtime March Madness thriller in 2024.
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With the season on the line, and possibly some Texas pride as well, Saturday’s matchup has the potential to be another legendary meeting in the historic rivalry.
Will Texas A&M advance to the Sweet 16 against last year’s national runner-up? Here are three things to know about the Cougars, plus a prediction of Texas A&M vs. Houston:
Houston leaning on suffocating defensive effort
Much like Saint Mary’s in Round 1, the Aggies are preparing to face another team fueled by a strong defensive effort. Houston enters the Round of 32 matchup as the top defensive team in the Big 12, allowing just 62.4 points per game.
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The Cougars have held opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field (third in conference), 31.6% beyond the arc (fifth in conference) and average 33.5 rebounds per game (sixth in conference). Houston has held teams under 70 points 24 times this season, and has kept teams under 50 six times.
Thursday, the Cougars held Idaho to 47 points, forcing it to shoot just 28.6% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc.
Pair of guards leading way for Cougs’
It’s not just defensive play that has Houston performing well; it’s also a duo in the backcourt who are making shots and creating plays that are uplifting the Cougars as well.
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The duo of freshman Kingston Flemings and senior Emanuel Sharp has been outstanding for Houston, averaging 16.4 and 15.3 points per game, respectively.
Flemings, a San Antonio native, has eclipsed 20 points 12 times this season, including scoring 42 against Texas Tech in January. The 6-foot-4 scorer put up 18 Thursday, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, collecting six rebounds and four assists.
Sharp was equally impressive against Idaho, scoring 16 points while shooting 6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range. The 6-foot-3 playmaker has scored 20 or more points four times since conference play began, including a season-high 27 points against Utah in February.
Houston looking to continue impressive history
Under Kelvin Sampson, Houston has been one of the best teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars’ head coach has led the program to the NCAA Tournament eight times in 12 years, including two Final Four appearances. Sampson and the Cougars have made it to the Sweet 16 for the last five seasons and six out of the last seven years.
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In 2024, nine-seed A&M and one-seed Houston faced off in the Round of 32 in Memphis, Tenn., with the Cougars edging out the Aggies in overtime, 100-95.
Former A&M forward and current Utah Jazz player, Andersson Garcia, tied the game with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. However, Houston scored 14 points in the overtime period to beat A&M and advance to the Sweet 16. The Cougars lost the next weekend to Duke, 54-51.
Texas A&M basketball vs Houston prediction
Houston, 72-70. Regardless of what happens Saturday, A&M’s first season under Bucky McMillan should be viewed positively. Winning a tournament game with a roster featuring just one returning player is encouraging for the future. Still, Houston isn’t in this for feel-good moments; they’re a serious opponent eager to return to the Final Four for consecutive seasons. If the Aggies get hot from beyond the arc and maintain a defensive effort like they did Thursday, they’ll have a chance. But the Cougars are a giant in the sport right now.
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Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com.s