Coogs lose to Bearcats, 67-58

Posted: January 7, 2017 -- 11:13 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- The Houston Cougars played hard Saturday night; but, the Coogs struggled making shots the entire game and lost to the 22nd-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats 67-58 in front of 4,875 fans who braved the cold Houston weather.

Sixteen seconds into the game, Cincinnati's Jacob Evans sank a three-point shot to start the scoring; and, the Coogs trailed 3-0.

The game was never tied; and, the Coogs never led in the ball game.

"It seems like we were playing uphill all night," Kelvin Sampson, Houston head coach said. "They shot the ball extremely well, especially in key possessions. Clark (Gary) made the two 3's based on the scouting report, he is shooting 15% on the year from the three. Washington (Kyle) really hurt us. Cincinnati is a good team. No shame in losing to them.

"We have to get a third scorer. Our plan was to have Devin (Davis) or Damyean Dotson. You have to have three guys who can make baskets. But right now that's a struggle for us, getting somebody else to become consistent that we can count on to be that third scorer."

The Coogs (12-4, 3-1 in the American Athletic Conference) trailed 30-25 at halftime and 50-36 eight minutes into the second half. Rob Gray converted a three-point play to end a Coogs' field goal drought of nearly three minutes.

The next four and a half minutes, the Bearcats (13-2, 3-0) struggled to make shots; but, the Coogs were unable to take advantage: scoring just 4 points (to just 2 for Cincinnati) during the stretch.

Jacob Evans made his second three-point shot to increase the Coogs' deficit to 12 points (55-43) with 7:07 remaining in the ball game.

Gray scored two consecutive baskets and Wes VanBeck nailed a three-point shot to slice the deficit to seven (57-50); but, Cincinnati's big man Kyle Washington pushed the lead to nine with another basket.

The Coogs had no answer for Washington in the second half. He scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half -- including 10 straight points -- to keep the Coogs at arms' length.

The Coogs never got closer than six points the rest of the ball game.

Rob Gray scored a game-high 21 points. Gray made 9 of his 22 field goal attempts. Wes VanBeck scored 11 points. Damyean Dotson and Galen Robinson, Jr. each added 10 points.

Coogs' big man Bert Nkali was the lone bright spot among the big men: Nkali scored six points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots. Danrad Knowles (2 rebounds) and Kyle Meyer (2 rebounds) were scoreless.

"Bertrand (Nkali) is the only guy that got on the board tonight," Kelvin Sampson said. "Just searching for somebody to make a shot, we went small, probably more than I would have liked to. We have to make shots. We have to get the ball moving a little but more.

"The guy (Devin Davis) that probably could help us is not playing now. I know Bertrand Nkali was fine. We signed Bert in May 2014, he's doing pretty good. We'd like to get more out of Danrad Knowles and Kyle (Meyer)."

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