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University of Houston
East Carolina
Cougars Roll to Senior Day Win vs ECU
3/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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HOUSTON - University of Houston junior guard Rob Gray led all players with 24 points to go over 1,000 during his career and lead the Cougars to a 73-51 win over East Carolina on Sunday afternoon inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
Sunday's game featured plenty of memories and nostalgia before, during and after the game. It was the final game to be played in Hofheinz Pavilion, which opened on Dec. 1, 1969 and has been the Cougars' home facility for more than 700 games.
Beginning this week, the facility will begin a $60 million renovation, which will transform the facility into the Fertitta Center during the 2018-19 season.
Prior to tipoff, the Cougars recognized center Kyle Meyer, guard Damyean Dotson, center Bertrand Nkali, forward Xavier Dupree and forward Danrad Knowles and their families during Senior Day ceremonies.
Just before tipoff, Fred and Dene Hofheinz - children of the late Judge Roy Hofheinz who was instrumental in the construction of Cougars' home arena and for whom it is named after - presented the game ball to officials.
At halftime, UH President Renu Khator, UH System Board of Regents Chairman Tilman Fertitta, Vice President for Athletics Hunter Yurachek and Regents took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Fertitta Center at midcourt.
Following the game, former players came onto the court. After a basket was made by senior guard Damyean Dotson on one end, the ball was passed from letterman to letterman and culminated when Houston legend Elvin Hayes took a pass and fed Houston great Hakeem Olajuwon for a two-hand dunk on the other.
The ball was then given to Fertitta, who took the ball up the steps and out of the arena. When the Fertitta Center official opens during the 2018-19 season, that ball will return, keeping the spirit of the Hofheinz family in the new arena.
With so much emotion throughout the sellout crowd of 8,479, the Cougars were sluggish early and built only a 33-32 lead by halftime.
After East Carolina cut the Cougars' lead to 40-37 following a Kentrell Barkley free throw with 14:30 remaining, the Cougars erupted on a 20-6 run over the next eight minutes and never led by fewer than 14 points the rest of the way to sweep the regular-season series against the Pirates.
Gray poured in 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and etched his name in the Houston records book midway through the second half. After an ECU turnover, Gray converted a layup with 8:18 remaining to go over 1,000 points during his Houston career.
Joining the Cougars a year ago, Gray became the 46th player in Houston history with 1,000+ points during his career and the first since Jherrod Stiggers during the 2014-15 season.
Junior guard Wes VanBeck added 11 points with three 3-pointers for the Cougars.
Senior guard Damyean Dotson led all players with nine rebounds and added eight points and had to wait until the end of the game to extend his record-setting streak.
Entering Sunday's game as one of the nation's premier 3-point shooters, the Houston native and Jack Yates High School product converted only 1-of-9 from behind the arc.
However with this lone trey with just 12 seconds left in the game, Dotson continued his school-record streak with 30 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer.
East Carolina guard Jeramy Sheppard led the Pirates with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting, while center Deng Riak added a game-high eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
• With Sunday's win, the Cougars face the winner of the No. 6 seed UConn-No. 11 seed USF at 8 p.m. (CST) Friday during the Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Championship Quarterfinals... Game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on KPRC 950 AM.
• UConn and USF square off in the Frontier Communications American Championship First Round at 7 p.m. (CST) Thursday.
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