Coogs speed by Tulsa, 81-66

Posted: January 27, 2016 -- 11:20 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- Wednesday night's match-up between the Houston Cougars and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane featured two streaks: the Coogs' 4-game losing streak and Tulsa's 5-game winning streak. The Coogs ended both streaks with a thorough 81-66 victory over the Golden Hurricane.

The Coogs (14-6 overall, 4-4 in American Athletic Conference) never trailed in the ball game. The Coogs led for 39 minutes and 16 seconds. (The game was tied at 0 before Houston's Rob Gray, Jr. opened the scoring with a 3 point basket and the Coogs never looked back.)

8-0 start for @UHCougarMBK. Coogs 3/4 fgs (2/2 3s).

— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) January 28, 2016

After the game, Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said pushing the pace was a key to the Coogs' win Wednesday night.

"When we left that meeting Sunday, we knew what we had to do and that was push the pace. We're no good slow," Sampson told the media during the post-game media session.

Houston Freshman point guard Galen Robinson, Jr. was a catalyst in pushing the pace. Robinson, Jr. scored a career-high 19 points in the game -- including 14 points in the second half. Eight of Robinson's Jr. points occurred in the first five minutes of the second half which helped the Coogs lead 54-34.

"I just came out tonight and just wanted to play aggressive," Robinson, Jr. acknowledged. "We’ve been watching film, and it was kind of embarrassing because I was being so passive when I could be making so much more happen for my team. So I tried to come out and do that tonight, and I did a good job of that."

Houston's lead grew to 24 points (65-41) before Tulsa made a few minor runs and pulled within 13 points with 64 seconds remaining in the game.

Rob Gray, Jr. scored 16 points while Devonta Pollard scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds -- in 21 minutes off the bench. Danrad Knowles added 11 points and 6 boards.

Tulsa (13-7, 5-3) shot an abysmal 26.7% (8 for 30) from the floor in the first half; and, the Coogs took advantage of the poor shooting to lead 38-17 with 4:42 left in the first half.

The Coogs finished the first half poorly; and, Tulsa ended the half with a 10-2 run to cut Houston's lead to 40-27 at halftime.

The Coogs shot 50% (15 for 30) from the floor in the second half; and, Tulsa shot less poorly (37.8%, 14 for 37). However, Tulsa made just 1 three-point shot attempt in the second-half (out of 12 attempts). Overall, the Golden Hurricane shot a frigid 11.5% (3 for 26) from the three-point line.

Overall, the Coogs shot 46.6% (27 for 58) from the floor and a superb 84.0% (21 for 25) from the free throw line.

"Nobody shoots more free throws than us," Sampson said. "Just because you work hard on free throw shooting every day doesn’t mean that you are going to go from bad to good in 24 hours; this isn’t instant oatmeal. It is a process. We have worked hard at free throw shooting, and it is starting to pay off now. It doesn’t pay off two hours later or two days later.

"Our free throw shooting was a by-product of hundreds of hundreds and hours of hours of free throw shooting. Each assistant coach picks out two or three guys, and they have to make 100 free throws every day. Because we didn’t shoot well from the free-throw line the last game doesn’t mean we are not working at it; it just takes time. Some guys can go from being average to being pretty good, and that might be their window. One of the things that helped us tonight is that (Danrad) “Chicken” (Knowles) only shot two (free throws). He had been shooting eight or nine free throws and has been killing our percentage."

During the 4-game losing streak, the Coogs scored 59, 53, 73, and 62 points. Tonight's 81 points were the most points scored by the Coogs since the 94 points scored in the double-overtime win over Wyoming, December 22, in Las Vegas.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's write-ups of Coogs' men's hoops games.