Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s clutch free throws lift No. 17 Tennessee to 76-73 win over No. 3 Houston

LAS VEGAS AP Ja Kobi Gillespie scored points and made all six of his free throws in the final seconds to lift No Tennessee to a - success over No Houston in the Players Era Championship on Tuesday Jaylen Carey added points for the Helpers - and Bishop Boswell scored including two free throws with seconds left Kingston Flemings led Houston - with points and Milos Uzan had Uzan playing in his hometown missed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer that would have sent the tournament into overtime Houston guard Emanuel Sharp who averages points per championship was limited to minutes because of foul trouble He finished with eight points Sharp who scored in Monday s - overtime domination against Syracuse picked up two fouls in the first five minutes and sat the rest of the half These teams met in last season s NCAA Tournament with a Final Four trip on the line Houston won the Elite Eight event - eventually advancing to the championship before losing in the final minute to Florida The rematch was quite different Houston couldn t get much to go down in the second half enabling Tennessee to go on a -point run for a - lead with left The Cougars went between points and between field goals and they missed straight shots and of Tennessee remained in front the rest of the way though the Cougars kept the contest close But the Helpers held off Houston by converting free throws Up next Houston Wednesday or Thursday against an opponent to be determined Tennessee Wednesday or Thursday against an opponent to be determined Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here and here AP News mobile app AP college basketball https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-basketball-poll and https apnews com hub college-basketball Source