SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Nnanna Njoku #22 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates after defeating the Houston Cougars 50-44 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) ((Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images))SAN ANTONIO - Jermaine Samuels had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Villanova advanced to its third NCAA Final Four in the last six NCAA Tournaments with a grind-it-out 50-44 victory over Houston in the South Region final Saturday.Caleb Daniels added 14 points for the Wildcats (30-7), and fifth-year senior Collin Gillespie's only made field goal was a clutch shot late.With both teams willing to limit possessions, the first spot for this year's Final Four in New Orleans was settled in a game that was ugly to watch with all the missed shots.Villanova shot 28.8% from the field (15 of 52).
The Cougars were only slightly better at 29.8% (17 of 57), missing their last five shots and 10 of 11 overall, and they made only one of their of 20 attempted 3-pointers.The Wildcats and coach Jay Wright won't complain as he seeks to add a third national title to the ones he won in 2016 and 2018.
Villanova will play either Kansas, the only No. 1 seed remaining, or 10th-seeded Miami in the Final Four next Saturday in New Orleans as it seeks its fourth championship overall.Taze Moore had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (32-6), who were denied making consecutive Final Four appearances for the first time since 1982-84 during the Phil Slama Jama era.
The starting five was completely changed from last season, including Moore and two other senior newcomers.After Villanova missed three shots on the same possession — and was still without any second-chance points in the game — Moore got the long.