The Cougars (31-2) led throughout, getting two second-chance layups from J'Wan Roberts in the opening minute of a game between two teams that are moving to the Big 12 next season. Roberts finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
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Sasser, the AAC player of the year who scored 30 points in Houston's quarterfinals win on Friday, crumpled with an apparent groin injury with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the first half. The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with four points in nine minutes.
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Sasser was dribbling between the conference logo and the 3-point line when his right foot appeared to slip, throwing him off-balance before his left foot slipped as well, sending him into an awkward split.
Houston was up by eight points when Sasser got hurt and expanded its lead to 38-23 by halftime.
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Landers Nolley II had 14 points for Cincinnati (21-12), which shot 25.5% (13 of 51) from the field.
A 3-pointer by Nolley with just over 15 minutes left the game had the Bearcats within 44-35 - the only time after halftime they were within single digits, and the last time.
Shead then had a jumper to start a 17-3 run. The junior guard had had seven points overall in the spurt that was capped by a free throw from Terrance Arceneaux for a 61-38 lead.
RELATED: No. 1 Houston Cougars maintain ranking-best 33% odds to win national title, BPI shows
BIG PICTURE
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Cincinnati: The Bearcats will miss the NCAA Tournament again, their last appearance being 2019, which was their ninth in a row. Just like in its quarterfinals game against East Carolina, Cincinnati was down 10 points less than seven minutes in against Houston. But there would be no comeback like Friday's 84-54 victory - their largest-ever winning margin in a conference tournament game. Instead, Cincinnati lost by more than 20 points for only the second time this season.
Houston: Even without Sasser, the Cougars bounced back from Friday's season-worst shooting game (28.1% overall, 16 of 57). They nearly doubled that in the semifinal game, shooting 50.9% (29 of 57). ... Houston is 11-0 in Dickies Arena and still hasn't lost away from home this season.
UP NEXT
Houston: Plays in the AAC tournament championship game Sunday against Memphis or Tulane, with the winner getting the league's automatic NCAA bid. The Cougars are sure to be a No. 1 seed when the bracket is released Sunday, no matter what happens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.