On a night packed with intensity between two top-10 teams, it was a single moment-one that lasted just a few seconds-that had college basketball fans buzzing coast to coast.
With just over six minutes left in the first half, Houston sophomore Mercy Miller delivered an absolute jaw-dropper of a dunk. Driving hard from the right wing, Miller blew past his defender, attacked the paint, and took flight. As a Cyclones big man rotated over to contest, Miller cocked the ball back and detonated a one-handed poster slam that lit up social media and brought ESPN’s Boog Sciambi to his feet with a perfectly timed, “MERCY!”
Yeah, that one’s going on the season highlight reel.
Miller, the son of Percy Miller-better known to many as Master P and currently serving as the president of basketball operations and assistant coach at the University of New Orleans-has been carving out a larger role for himself this season under veteran head coach Kelvin Sampson. After limited minutes as a freshman, Miller has seen increased opportunities as Houston manages the grind of a long Big 12 campaign.
But as electric as that dunk was, it wasn’t enough to carry the Cougars to a win in Ames.
No. 2 Houston led by seven with just over eight minutes to play, but No.
6 Iowa State flipped the switch late. The Cyclones closed the game on a 17-7 run, handing the Cougars a 70-67 loss in one of the more physical, back-and-forth battles we’ve seen this season.
Still, there were bright spots for Houston beyond Miller’s highlight. Kingston Flemings was locked in from the jump, pouring in 22 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting night, including 4-of-5 from deep. The sophomore guard was the offensive engine for much of the night, keeping Houston afloat with timely buckets and confident shot-making.
Emanuel Sharp added 16 points, continuing his steady production, while Milos Uzan chipped in with 11 points and six assists. Chris Cenac Jr. was a force on the glass, pulling down 12 rebounds and battling all night in the paint.
The loss drops Houston to 23-3 overall and 11-2 in Big 12 play, but the Cougars still sit atop the conference standings. With the postseason looming, every possession is magnified, and this one-despite the sting of defeat-offered plenty of teachable moments and a reminder that this team has depth, toughness, and highlight-reel potential.
Next up: a marquee home matchup against No. 4 Arizona on February 21. Expect the Cougars to come out with something to prove.