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University of Houston
DePaul
Houston Topped By DePaul, 68-57
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Quemont Greer scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds to lead DePaul to a 68-57 victory over Houston on Saturday at the Allstate Arena.
After leading for 27 minutes of the first 28 minutes, 40 seconds played in the game, Houston missed six critical free throws down the stretch.
Houston jumped out to an 11-0 lead as Ramon Dyer made two straight three-point baskets and Andre Owens scored five points on a three-pointer and a fast-break dunk off a steal by Lanny Smith.
The Cougars extended their lead to 26-9 with 9:19 left in the first half after Chicago native Chris Lawson maded a three-point shot from the left baseline and a lay-up off a steal before DePaul closed to within 31-24 at halftime.
The second half began just like the start of the game when Dyer opened hit another trey from the right corner. Instead, however, Houston's offense stalled and the game was decided at the free throw line. The Blue Demons made 23 of their 28 free throws in the second half, while Houston made just eight of 17 after not shooting any free throws in the first half.
After Dyer's trey, DePaul rallied to within 34-32 with 16:29 left to play. The two teams fought back and forth in the next 10 minutes as DePaul led 50-49 on two free throws by reserve center Jamal Nichols with 6:49 left to play.
That is when Houston's dry spell at the free throw line proved costly. First, Dyer missed his two free throws just before DePaul's Lavar Seals extended the Blue Demons' lead to three with a jumper inside the free throw line.
Then, sophomore guard Lanny Smith missed four straight free throws on Houston's next two possessions allowing the Blue Demons to open up a six-point lead, 57-51.
Dyer came back to hit his sixth three-point shot of the afternoon from the top of the key as Houston closed to within three, 57-54, with 3:54 left to play. But, he was called for his fourth foul on DePaul's next possession.
Quemont Greer made both of his free throws and then went to the line for two more after Rodney Hannah was called for a blocking foul in the lane with 1:49 left.
Houston head coach Tom Penders also was charged with a technical foul after arguing the call by Brad Ferrie. Greer made both of his free throws before Seals made both of the free throws on the technical to make dthe score 63-56 with 1:49 left.
After Owens made his second of two free throws, Greer went to the line again and made one of two free throws to put DePaul up, 64-57, with 1:02 left to play.
Cliff Clinkscales closed out the scoring in the final minute of the game when he made all four of his free throws.
Greer led the Blue Demons with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Drake Diener finished with 14 points, and Seals added 13.
Dyer scored 18 points to lead the Cougars and Andre Owens added 17 points and four assists. Hannah finished with six points, while Lawson added five points in the first and Dwight Jones finished with four.
The loss dropped Houston's overall record to 9-6 and 1-1 in Conference USA play after upsetting 16th-ranked Louisville. DePaul improved to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in C-USA.
