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Saturday, January 9
Houston
3 p.m.
University of Houston
10-1, 5-1AAC
71
vs
50
Tulane
6-3, 1-3AAC
1
2
F
Tulane
25
25
50
Houston
37
34
71
Sasser Leads Houston Past Tulane
1/9/2021 4:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Box ScoreHighlightsGame Book (PDF)Postgame – Kelvin SampsonPostgame – Student-AthletesSeason Statistics (PDF)Photo Gallery
Sophomore guard posts career high with 28 pts, drains Ferttita Center-record 8 treys
HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston sophomore guard Marcus Sasser scored 20 of his career-high 28 points in the first half to lead the 11th-ranked Cougars past Tulane, 71-50, on Saturday inside the Fertitta Center.
Sasser shot 7 of 9, including 6 of 7 on 3-pointers, in the first half as the Cougars (10-1, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) built a 12-point halftime lead.
''They were leaving me open a little bit, and coach (Kelvin Sampson) gives me confidence to shoot the ball,'' Sasser said. ''Every time I shot it, it was going in. I feel like that was the hottest I've been.''
Sasser finished with a career-high eight 3-pointers.
''I thought we did a good job of executing our stuff, moving it and finding Marcus,'' Sampson said. ''We've had some gifted shooters come through here over the years, and Marcus is right in that class with those guys.''
Quentin Grimes scored 14 points. Houston shot 44%, including 15 of 36 on 3-pointers.
The Cougars outrebounded Tulane 48-26, which led to an 18-9 advantage in second-chance points.
Jordan Walker scored 13 points and Jaylen Forbes had 11 for Tulane (6-3, 1-3).
''I thought there were stretches where our kids played well,'' Tulane coach Ron Hunter said. ''(Houston) shot the ball well today, probably the best they have shot it all year. Again, this is the standard. As I told our guys, if you want to learn to compete, this is how you compete.''
The Green Wave shot 29%, including 6 of 19 on 3-pointers.
''We're just not mature enough that when they make runs, we can end it,'' Hunter said. ''Then, they get confident. Sasser made six 3-pointers in the first half, and I think on three of them, we just flat out lost him, something we hadn't done all year.
''When they make shots like that from the perimeter, I'm not sure how you can beat them,'' he added.
Houston used a 16-5 spurt to take a 34-21 lead on a layup by DeJon Jarreau with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Sasser had eight points in the run.
Houston led 37-25 at the half.
The Cougars extended the lead to 43-27 on consecutive 3-pointers by Grimes with 16 minutes remaining and never let Tulane get closer than 12 the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Tulane: The Green Wave last defeated a ranked opponent on Dec. 22, 1999, when Tulane beat then-No. 25 NC State. Tulane won the turnover battle for the eighth time in nine games this season, forcing Houston into 14 while committing 10. Tulane finished 14 of 17 from the free-throw line.
''Their physicality wears you out, and it wears you out not physically but mentally,'' Hunter said. ''That's what it ended up doing to my young kids because again, the physicality was too much for us.''
Houston: The Cougars won its fifth straight at home against Tulane. Justin Gorham led Houston in rebounding with 11, which was his third consecutive game with at least 10 boards. The Cougars got 19 points from their bench.
''We're getting much better,'' Houston center Brison Gresham said. ''I still feel like we have a way higher ceiling. I think we should be 11-0. Defensively, I think we could get way better.''
HE SAID IT
''I think he's got a Final Four team. I'm not trying to put pressure on (Sampson), but I've been around a long time. That is a really, really good basketball team.'' -Hunter on the Cougars.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars face USF at 6 p.m. (CST) Thursday, inside the Yuengling Center, in Tampa, Fla... Game can be seen on ESPN/ESPN2 and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.
• From there, Houston returns to the Fertitta Center for three straight home games, beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17, against UCF... Game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.
• Homestand continues against nr/rv Tulsa (7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20) and Cincinnati (11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23).
JOIN THE 2021-22 SEASON TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Sasser shot 7 of 9, including 6 of 7 on 3-pointers, in the first half as the Cougars (10-1, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) built a 12-point halftime lead.
''They were leaving me open a little bit, and coach (Kelvin Sampson) gives me confidence to shoot the ball,'' Sasser said. ''Every time I shot it, it was going in. I feel like that was the hottest I've been.''
Sasser finished with a career-high eight 3-pointers.
''I thought we did a good job of executing our stuff, moving it and finding Marcus,'' Sampson said. ''We've had some gifted shooters come through here over the years, and Marcus is right in that class with those guys.''
Quentin Grimes scored 14 points. Houston shot 44%, including 15 of 36 on 3-pointers.
The Cougars outrebounded Tulane 48-26, which led to an 18-9 advantage in second-chance points.
Jordan Walker scored 13 points and Jaylen Forbes had 11 for Tulane (6-3, 1-3).
''I thought there were stretches where our kids played well,'' Tulane coach Ron Hunter said. ''(Houston) shot the ball well today, probably the best they have shot it all year. Again, this is the standard. As I told our guys, if you want to learn to compete, this is how you compete.''
The Green Wave shot 29%, including 6 of 19 on 3-pointers.
''We're just not mature enough that when they make runs, we can end it,'' Hunter said. ''Then, they get confident. Sasser made six 3-pointers in the first half, and I think on three of them, we just flat out lost him, something we hadn't done all year.
''When they make shots like that from the perimeter, I'm not sure how you can beat them,'' he added.
Houston used a 16-5 spurt to take a 34-21 lead on a layup by DeJon Jarreau with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Sasser had eight points in the run.
Houston led 37-25 at the half.
The Cougars extended the lead to 43-27 on consecutive 3-pointers by Grimes with 16 minutes remaining and never let Tulane get closer than 12 the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Tulane: The Green Wave last defeated a ranked opponent on Dec. 22, 1999, when Tulane beat then-No. 25 NC State. Tulane won the turnover battle for the eighth time in nine games this season, forcing Houston into 14 while committing 10. Tulane finished 14 of 17 from the free-throw line.
''Their physicality wears you out, and it wears you out not physically but mentally,'' Hunter said. ''That's what it ended up doing to my young kids because again, the physicality was too much for us.''
Houston: The Cougars won its fifth straight at home against Tulane. Justin Gorham led Houston in rebounding with 11, which was his third consecutive game with at least 10 boards. The Cougars got 19 points from their bench.
''We're getting much better,'' Houston center Brison Gresham said. ''I still feel like we have a way higher ceiling. I think we should be 11-0. Defensively, I think we could get way better.''
HE SAID IT
''I think he's got a Final Four team. I'm not trying to put pressure on (Sampson), but I've been around a long time. That is a really, really good basketball team.'' -Hunter on the Cougars.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars face USF at 6 p.m. (CST) Thursday, inside the Yuengling Center, in Tampa, Fla... Game can be seen on ESPN/ESPN2 and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.
• From there, Houston returns to the Fertitta Center for three straight home games, beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17, against UCF... Game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.
• Homestand continues against nr/rv Tulsa (7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20) and Cincinnati (11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23).
JOIN THE 2021-22 SEASON TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
TULANE
HOU
FG%
.288
.443
3FG%
.316
.417
FT%
.824
.500
RB
26
48
TO
10
14
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
10
3FGM
8
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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