IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters

It took a couple of late blocks, and a controversial stop at the buzzer, but No. 1 Houston survived a scare on Sunday afternoon in Alabama.

The top-ranked Cougars held on late to beat No. 22 Auburn 73-72 at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, marking their first major win of the season. That pushed them to 4-0 on the year, and should solidify their place as the No. 1 team in the country when the new rankings come out on Monday. 

The loss was Auburn’s first of the season. The Tigers are now 1-15 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, too. 

The Cougars took a slight four-point lead at the break on Sunday, thanks to a huge first half from Kingston Flemings. He had 18 points and shot an impressive 6-of-9 from the field in the first 20-minutes, and he hit a huge 3-pointer in Kevin Overton’s face with just two seconds left to put the Cougars up by a pair of possessions entering the locker room.

They remained a step ahead for much of the second half, too, and actually led the entire way after a back-and-forth battle in the first half that saw eight lead changes and 10 ties. But Auburn repeatedly hung in there, and even mounted a brief 8-2 run capped by a KeShawn Murphy layup late to get back within two points after it looked like the Cougars were going to run away with it.

The Tigers’ offense largely stalled after that. They went more than four minutes without a made field goal, and lost Keyshawn Hall to an apparent ankle injury late. But Houston couldn’t get a bucket to fall, either, which let the Tigers hang around late. Flemings committed a bad turnover while trying to Emanuel Sharp with just 65 seconds on the clock, which then set up a dunk from Murphy that cut the lead back to just one point.

Tahaad Pettiford had a great look at a layup after a quick stop on the other end, too, but Flemings blocked him at the rim. Pettiford tried again, but this time it was Kalifa Sakho who stuffed him. But the ball went out of bounds in the corner, setting up one very awkward last look for the Tigers with one second on the clock. 

They tried to lob it into Murphy at the rim, but Houston got in the way and broke up the pass before the buzzer sounded, which allowed them to escape with the one-point win. Murphy was thrown down to the court, and looked livid on the ground while the Cougars celebrated, and Tigers head coach Steven Pearl lit up the officials over the no-call. But the play stood, giving the Cougars their first marquee win of the year.

Flemings finished wiht 22 points in the win for the Cougars. Chris Cenac added 18 points, and Sharp finished with 13 points. Houston shot just 7-of-24 from deep, and both Cenac and Tugler fouled out late. 

Hall led Auburn with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Pettiford added 15 points. The Tigers shot just 21-of-33 from the free throw line. 

This post will be updated with more information shortly.