.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
Sunday, February 28
Houston
3 p.m.
University of Houston
20-3, 13-3AAC
98
vs
52
USF
8-10, 4-8AAC
1
2
F
USF
21
31
52
Houston
56
42
98
Fast Start Leads No. 12/10 Houston to Win over USF
2/28/2021 4:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Quentin Grimes scored team-high 22 points
HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston junior guard Quentin Grimes scored 22 points, all in the first half, to lead the 12th-ranked Cougars to a 98-52 win over USF on Sunday inside the Fertitta Center.
Grimes scored 16 straight points at one point as the Cougars (20-3, 13-3 American Athletic Conference) put the game away with a huge first-half run. The junior guard, who scored 21 of his 33 points in the first half against Western Kentucky on Thursday, finished 8 of 16 from the field and hit 6 of 12 3-pointers.
''When he gets hot like that, it's really amazing to watch,'' Houston senior guard DeJon Jarreau said. ''I just want him to keep shooting because it's really a show. I enjoy watching it, and the whole team enjoys watching it. Whoever is hot, we try to keep feeding him.''
Jarreau added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and senior forwards Justin Gorham and Fabian White Jr. had 10 points apiece for Houston, which won its third straight and reached 20 wins for the sixth consecutive season. The Cougars shot 60% and made 15 of 33 3-pointers.
''We're 20-3, which tells you a little bit about the program,'' Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. ''Just the consistency of the program is hard to do. Most people take that for granted because you just assume you're going to do it because it must be easy. It's not.''
Houston forced the Bulls (8-10, 4-8) into 15 turnovers and converted those into 22 points.
''Playing defense, we defended well,'' Jarreau said. ''We made a lot of shots today. Coach Sampson always says that if we make shots and defend well, it will be hard for a team to beat us. With those two things coming together, it doesn't get any better than that.''
Xavier Castaneda scored 11 points and Caleb Murphy added 10 for USF, which has lost five of six. The Bulls shot 37%.
''You got to make every shot you take against them when you're open,'' USF coach Brian Gregory said. ''In that first half, we had some good looks at some 3s, just weren't able to finish. They took advantage of it.''
The Cougars jumped out to a 54-16 lead with four minutes left in the first half by outscoring USF 47-10, including a 26-0 run. Houston led 56-21 at halftime behind 61% shooting, making 10 of 20 3-pointers.
''Over the last probably two weeks, Houston has started to find their groove on the offensive end,'' Gregory said. ''Grimes is playing at an extremely high level right now. That has been the next phase for them is to be able to score the basketball, move the basketball and get easy baskets.''
BIG PICTURE
USF: The Bulls entered ranked 15th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds, averaging 13.2 per game. They had 13 against Houston but managed only nine second-chance points. ... USF has lost 32 straight games against ranked opponents, with its last win in February 2012 over then-No. 19 Louisville.
Houston: The Cougars won their 24th straight at home. ... Houston won its ninth straight against the Bulls. ... The Cougars committed five turnovers while forcing 11 steals. Houston had 27 assists, held a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 31-1 edge in fast-break points.
''The stat that I'm most proud of today - and this shows you the growth of our team this year - was 27 assists and five turnovers,'' Sampson said. ''To have 27 assists and five turnovers, the unselfishness and moving the ball and finding the open man and that guy shooting with confidence.''
UP NEXT
The Cougars are scheduled to face Memphis on March 7 inside Fertitta Center. The game will be televised on CBS and tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT.
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.
Grimes scored 16 straight points at one point as the Cougars (20-3, 13-3 American Athletic Conference) put the game away with a huge first-half run. The junior guard, who scored 21 of his 33 points in the first half against Western Kentucky on Thursday, finished 8 of 16 from the field and hit 6 of 12 3-pointers.
''When he gets hot like that, it's really amazing to watch,'' Houston senior guard DeJon Jarreau said. ''I just want him to keep shooting because it's really a show. I enjoy watching it, and the whole team enjoys watching it. Whoever is hot, we try to keep feeding him.''
Jarreau added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and senior forwards Justin Gorham and Fabian White Jr. had 10 points apiece for Houston, which won its third straight and reached 20 wins for the sixth consecutive season. The Cougars shot 60% and made 15 of 33 3-pointers.
''We're 20-3, which tells you a little bit about the program,'' Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. ''Just the consistency of the program is hard to do. Most people take that for granted because you just assume you're going to do it because it must be easy. It's not.''
Houston forced the Bulls (8-10, 4-8) into 15 turnovers and converted those into 22 points.
''Playing defense, we defended well,'' Jarreau said. ''We made a lot of shots today. Coach Sampson always says that if we make shots and defend well, it will be hard for a team to beat us. With those two things coming together, it doesn't get any better than that.''
Xavier Castaneda scored 11 points and Caleb Murphy added 10 for USF, which has lost five of six. The Bulls shot 37%.
''You got to make every shot you take against them when you're open,'' USF coach Brian Gregory said. ''In that first half, we had some good looks at some 3s, just weren't able to finish. They took advantage of it.''
The Cougars jumped out to a 54-16 lead with four minutes left in the first half by outscoring USF 47-10, including a 26-0 run. Houston led 56-21 at halftime behind 61% shooting, making 10 of 20 3-pointers.
''Over the last probably two weeks, Houston has started to find their groove on the offensive end,'' Gregory said. ''Grimes is playing at an extremely high level right now. That has been the next phase for them is to be able to score the basketball, move the basketball and get easy baskets.''
BIG PICTURE
USF: The Bulls entered ranked 15th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds, averaging 13.2 per game. They had 13 against Houston but managed only nine second-chance points. ... USF has lost 32 straight games against ranked opponents, with its last win in February 2012 over then-No. 19 Louisville.
Houston: The Cougars won their 24th straight at home. ... Houston won its ninth straight against the Bulls. ... The Cougars committed five turnovers while forcing 11 steals. Houston had 27 assists, held a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 31-1 edge in fast-break points.
''The stat that I'm most proud of today - and this shows you the growth of our team this year - was 27 assists and five turnovers,'' Sampson said. ''To have 27 assists and five turnovers, the unselfishness and moving the ball and finding the open man and that guy shooting with confidence.''
UP NEXT
The Cougars are scheduled to face Memphis on March 7 inside Fertitta Center. The game will be televised on CBS and tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT.
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.
Team Stats
USF
HOU
FG%
.365
.600
3FG%
.389
.455
FT%
.538
.833
RB
29
34
TO
15
5
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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