Sen. Ted Cruz and Jimmy Kimmel shake hands before the Blobfish Basketball Classic and one-on-one interview at Texas Southern University's Health & Physical Education Arena Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Houston. Cruz challenged Kimmel to the game after Kimmel blamed the Houston Rockets playoff loss on the senator. Cruz won 11-9. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)
The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) - Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has triumphed over late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel in their much-hyped charity basketball game that Kimmel dubbed the Blobfish Basketball Classic.
With each basket worth a single point, Cruz topped Kimmel 11-9 in a two-hour one-on-one match they agreed to abbreviate Saturday at Texas Southern University after neither appeared capable of reaching 15 points and winning by two.
The Houston Chronicle described the matchup as "a slow-motion car-crash of half-court basketball." Speaking for both men, Kimmel said: "We apologize to the game of basketball."
The game was born of a joke from Kimmel, who'd said the Republican senator resembled the ocean bottom-dwelling blobfish. Cruz responded by challenging Kimmel to a basketball game.
Two Houston charities are the beneficiaries. Game highlight videos are planned for Kimmel's ABC program Monday night.
Senator Ted Cruz dribbles past Jimmy Kimmel during the Blobfish Basketball Classic and one-on-one interview at Texas Southern University's Health & Physical Education Arena Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Houston. Cruz challenged Kimmel to the game after Kimmel blamed the Houston Rockets playoff loss on the senator. Cruz won 11-9. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)
The Associated Press
Jimmy Kimmel and Sen. Ted Cruz face off during the Blobfish Basketball Classic and one-on-one interview at Texas Southern University's Health & Physical Education Arena Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Houston. Cruz challenged Kimmel to the game after Kimmel blamed the Houston Rockets playoff loss on the senator. Cruz won 11-9. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)
The Associated Press
Jimmy Kimmel takes a shot over senator Ted Cruz during the Blobfish Basketball Classic and one-on-one interview at Texas Southern University's Health & Physical Education Arena Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Houston. Cruz challenged Kimmel to the game after Kimmel blamed the Houston Rockets playoff loss on the senator. Cruz won 11-9. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)
The Associated Press