Francis Scores 23, #3 Men's Hoops beats McNeese State 83-44
12/21/2022 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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Sharp, Sasser combine for 11 treys
HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston sophomore center Ja'Vier Francis scored a career-high 23 points and had 13 rebounds as No. 3 Houston routed McNeese State 83-44 inside the Fertitta Center on Wednesday night.
Redshirt freshman guard Emanuel Sharp added 18 points while going 6-of-10 on 3-pointers for the Cougars, and senior guard Marcus Sasser hit 5-of-10 from long range and scored 17 points. The pair combined to shoot 9 of 14 on 3s in the first half.
''Our young guys have been getting better,'' Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said. ''Every minute that Ja'Vier gets is just an investment for our program and for him. Same thing for Emanuel. We got good young players, but they are playing on a veteran team.''
Coming off a hard-fought 69-61 win at then-No. 2 Virginia on Saturday, Houston (12-1) had an easier time scoring. The Cougars went 11-of-20 from long range in the opening half and led 42-19 at the break.
Roberts Berze scored 13 points and Christian Shumate added 10 for McNeese State (3-10). The Cowboys lost their fourth straight game.
Houston shot 52.5% from the field, including 14 of 33 on 3-pointers.
''The good thing about our 3s tonight was who was taking them,'' Sampson said. ''Our two best 3-point shooters are Marcus and Emanuel. Shot selection is important, and our kids know that.''
The Cougars outrebounded the Cowboys 43-22 and converted 16 McNeese State turnovers into 23 points.
''The thing that's so good about them is they are so good and big inside and on the glass, so you try to be inside oriented and really shrink the paint and try to hit bodies,'' McNeese State coach John Aiken said. ''But then (Sharp) and Sasser ... hit nine 3s in the first half, (and) they become a lethal team.''
McNeese State shot 37%, including 6 of 24 on 3s.
Houston used a 20-2 run over an 8 1/2-minute span of the first half to open a 27-9 lead on a 3-pointer by Tramon Mark with 4:40 remaining. Sharp had nine points in the run.
BIG PICTURE
McNeese State: The Cowboys fell to 0-4 this season against ranked opponents and 0-31 all-time. Each of the four losses this season were by at least 29 points.
''I challenged us like crazy in the nonconference,'' Aiken said. ''We had a very challenging schedule, and our team has stayed together. You come to these environments, and the reason I did this is because if we are ever to make the NCAA Tournament, we are going to be playing a one-seed, so I want to expose our guys to what it looks like to play the No. 1 overall seed in the country.''
Houston: The Cougars finished with 12 regular-season nonconference wins, tied for second-most in a season behind the 13 they had in 2018-19. ... Houston held a 20-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Cougars had 23 assists on 32 baskets.
Sampson said following the loss to Alabama on Dec. 10 that his team had a ''come-to-Jesus meeting about how they were going to play.''
''Some things just aren't negotiable,'' he said. ''The ball's got to move. Move it.''
NO FOUL TROUBLE
Houston was whistled for four fouls, a school record for the fewest fouls committed in a game.
UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, Houston opens its American Athletic Conference slate when it meets Tulsa at 8 p.m., Dec. 28, inside the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. That game will air on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars open their league schedule in the Fertitta Center when they play host to UCF at 1 p.m., New Year's Eve. That game will air on ESPN+
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
BUY 2022-23 TICKETS
Fans may purchase single-game tickets for the Cougars' 18 regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center. Supplies are limited, and fans are encouraged to purchase soon before they run out.
To purchase single-game tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here any time.
For the third straight season, the Cougars sold out of their season tickets for home games inside the Fertitta Center.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets in 2022-23 are invited to join the team's 2023-24 Wait List as the Cougars prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. To join the 2023-24 season tickets Wait List, fans can click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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 (4687).
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.
Redshirt freshman guard Emanuel Sharp added 18 points while going 6-of-10 on 3-pointers for the Cougars, and senior guard Marcus Sasser hit 5-of-10 from long range and scored 17 points. The pair combined to shoot 9 of 14 on 3s in the first half.
''Our young guys have been getting better,'' Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said. ''Every minute that Ja'Vier gets is just an investment for our program and for him. Same thing for Emanuel. We got good young players, but they are playing on a veteran team.''
Coming off a hard-fought 69-61 win at then-No. 2 Virginia on Saturday, Houston (12-1) had an easier time scoring. The Cougars went 11-of-20 from long range in the opening half and led 42-19 at the break.
Roberts Berze scored 13 points and Christian Shumate added 10 for McNeese State (3-10). The Cowboys lost their fourth straight game.
Houston shot 52.5% from the field, including 14 of 33 on 3-pointers.
''The good thing about our 3s tonight was who was taking them,'' Sampson said. ''Our two best 3-point shooters are Marcus and Emanuel. Shot selection is important, and our kids know that.''
The Cougars outrebounded the Cowboys 43-22 and converted 16 McNeese State turnovers into 23 points.
''The thing that's so good about them is they are so good and big inside and on the glass, so you try to be inside oriented and really shrink the paint and try to hit bodies,'' McNeese State coach John Aiken said. ''But then (Sharp) and Sasser ... hit nine 3s in the first half, (and) they become a lethal team.''
McNeese State shot 37%, including 6 of 24 on 3s.
Houston used a 20-2 run over an 8 1/2-minute span of the first half to open a 27-9 lead on a 3-pointer by Tramon Mark with 4:40 remaining. Sharp had nine points in the run.
BIG PICTURE
McNeese State: The Cowboys fell to 0-4 this season against ranked opponents and 0-31 all-time. Each of the four losses this season were by at least 29 points.
''I challenged us like crazy in the nonconference,'' Aiken said. ''We had a very challenging schedule, and our team has stayed together. You come to these environments, and the reason I did this is because if we are ever to make the NCAA Tournament, we are going to be playing a one-seed, so I want to expose our guys to what it looks like to play the No. 1 overall seed in the country.''
Houston: The Cougars finished with 12 regular-season nonconference wins, tied for second-most in a season behind the 13 they had in 2018-19. ... Houston held a 20-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Cougars had 23 assists on 32 baskets.
Sampson said following the loss to Alabama on Dec. 10 that his team had a ''come-to-Jesus meeting about how they were going to play.''
''Some things just aren't negotiable,'' he said. ''The ball's got to move. Move it.''
NO FOUL TROUBLE
Houston was whistled for four fouls, a school record for the fewest fouls committed in a game.
UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, Houston opens its American Athletic Conference slate when it meets Tulsa at 8 p.m., Dec. 28, inside the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. That game will air on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars open their league schedule in the Fertitta Center when they play host to UCF at 1 p.m., New Year's Eve. That game will air on ESPN+
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
BUY 2022-23 TICKETS
Fans may purchase single-game tickets for the Cougars' 18 regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center. Supplies are limited, and fans are encouraged to purchase soon before they run out.
To purchase single-game tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here any time.
For the third straight season, the Cougars sold out of their season tickets for home games inside the Fertitta Center.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets in 2022-23 are invited to join the team's 2023-24 Wait List as the Cougars prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. To join the 2023-24 season tickets Wait List, fans can click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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 (4687).
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
McN
UH
FG%
.367
.525
3FG%
.250
.424
FT%
.400
.500
RB
22
43
TO
16
12
STL
9
8
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