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University of Houston
15-2,10-2AAC
ECU
8-6,2-6AAC
Gardner, ECU upset No. 5 Houston
2/3/2021 7:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DeJon Jarreau leads all with 25 points
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) – Jayden Gardner had 21 points and 15 rebounds to help East Carolina stun fifth-ranked Houston 82-73 on Wednesday night, securing the Pirates' first win against a ranked opponent in nearly two decades.
Tremont Robinson-White added 17 points for East Carolina, which defied season-long offensive struggles against one of the nation's top defensive teams. East Carolina shot 47% and made 11 of 24 3-pointers - and more impressively, the Pirates led for the last 12-plus minutes against a Houston team that struggled to make much of anything after halftime.
East Carolina (8-6, 2-6 American Athletic Conference) hadn't won a game in more than a month between five straight losses and three postponements. But the Pirates found an unforgettable way to end a 33-game losing streak against AP Top 25 teams, though it came with no fans to storm the court in celebration and only a limited number of attendees in Minges Coliseum due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Houston (15-2, 10-2) came in as KenPom's No. 2-ranked defense, allowing 86 points per 100 possessions, while also ranking as one of the nation's top rebounding teams. But the Cougars didn't do much to hold down the Pirates in either category while their offense sputtered.
DeJon Jarreau matched his career high with 25 points to lead the Cougars, who had won nine straight meetings dating to 2015, including wins by double-digit margins on ECU's home floor in each of the past four seasons. But top scorer Quentin Grimes struggled to just seven points on 2-for-10 shooting.
BIG PICTURE
Houston: The Cougars moved to No. 5 in Monday's latest AP Top 25, marking their second stint there this season. That's the program's highest ranking since the 1983-84 season that ended with the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Cougars reaching the NCAA title game. They had also won all eight of their games since the start of 2021. But they made just 8 of 31 shots after halftime (25.8%) while finishing with a 37-36 rebounding edge.
ECU: East Carolina hadn't won since beating Tulane at home on Dec. 22. And the Pirates hadn't beaten a ranked team since upsetting a Dwyane Wade-led Marquette team ranked 13th in December 2002. Those skids are over.
UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, the Cougars will face Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m., Saturday, inside the Fertitta Center.
• Game was recently added to the Cougars' schedule.
• From there, Houston meets USF at 6 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Feb. 10 inside the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.
• That game was originally scheduled for Jan. 14 but was postponed and rescheduled recently due to COVID positive tests and contact tracing within the USF program.
• Rescheduled game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.
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.
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More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aaronbeardap
