INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Houston Cougars became the first team to reach the 2021 Final Four as Marcus Sasser scored a game-high 20 points in a 67-61 win against Oregon State Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Cougars will face the winner of Monday's other regional final between Baylor and Arkansas.

Houston, which is in the Final Four for the first time since 1984, improved to 28-3 on the year. The Cougars finished with a 41-29 rebounding advantage, including 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second-half points.

The Cougars led 34-17 at the half after forcing eight Oregon State turnovers and holding the Beavers to just seven field goals and 35.0 percent shooting (7-20).

The Beavers shot 55.6 percent in the second half and came all the way back to tie the game at 55 with 3:46 remaining, but Quentin Grimes responded with a 3-point field goal with 3:21 left. The long jumper would be the Cougars' final field goal made as Houston hit 10 free throws down the stretch and forced the only two Oregon State turnovers of the half.

Sasser hit five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 20 points, while Grimes added 18, including four 3-pointers. DeJon Jarreau was close to another triple-double with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Jarreau was named the Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player and Grimes was named to the all-regional team.

It is the second time a team from The American has advanced to the Final Four, joining the UConn team that won the National Championship in 2014.