No. 1 seed Houston is headed to the Final Four for the second time in the past five seasons after imposing its will on No. 2 seed Tennessee for a 69-50 win in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Cougars used a masterful defensive effort to build a 22-point first half lead and then held on late for their 17th consecutive victory.

INDIANAPOLIS — Gas up the car, the Houston Cougars are headed back to the Final Four. The top-seeded Cougars used a suffocating defense to beat No. 2 seed Tennessee 69-50 in the Midwest Region final Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium to advance to college basketball’s grandest stage for the first time in four years.

Houston is in control all the way against Tennessee. The Cougars will play Duke next weekend in the Final Four.