Coogs 2-0 after 79-68 win over Rice Owls

Posted: November 14, 2018 -- 10:35 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- Armoni Brooks scored a game-high 20 points in the Houston Cougars' 79-68 win over the Rice Owls Wednesday night in front of nearly 4,000 fans gathered inside the H&PE Arena on the Texas Southern University campus.

Houston led by as much as 18 points in the second half; but, the Owls pulled within six points in the final three minutes before Houston pulled away for the 11 point win.

"I'm grateful to be 2-0," Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said after the game. "I was impressed with Rice’s kids, they really scrapped and they stayed together when we got up 18. They really hung in there. That’s a real positive for Scott and I was really impressed with Rice’s kids."

Rice (2-2) led 6 to 2; but, the Coogs (2-0) used a 13-0 run in 4 minutes 25 seconds to take a 15-6 lead. Brooks scored 8 points during the run. Houston never trailed the rest of the game.

The Coogs kept the Owls at arms' length the rest of the first half and led 40-29 at halftime. Brooks scored 17 points in the opening half on 7 for 11 field goal shooting including 3 for 4 three-point field goal shooting.

The Owls cut the Coogs' lead to 8 points (42-34) early in the second half; however, Houston went on a 10-0 run in 88 seconds to lead 52-34 with 17:25 remaining in the ball game.

Rice scored six straight points to slice into the lead; but, Houston answered with five consecutive points for a 57-40 lead with 13:47 on the clock.

Houston's lead fluctuated between 13 and 18 points during the next five minute stretch before Rice used a 14-2 run to pull within six points (66-60) with 2:55 left in the game. Owls' freshman Drew Peterson scored 7 points during the run.

Houston freshman Nate Hinton scored 4 points during a 6-0 burst by the Coogs which boosted the margin to 12 (72-60) with 1:45 on the clock. Houston's redshirt freshman Cedrick Alley Jr. keyed the spurt with two defensive rebounds and a steal.

Houston ended the game making 6 of 8 foul shots to seal the win.

"It got to an 11-point lead at halftime. It was a lot for us to overcome," said Rice Owls Head Coach Scott Pera after the game. "But, I'm really proud of our guys and how we fought back; how we defended the second half. We'll find a way in January and February to get this win."

NOTES:

Houston finished the game with a 26-0 edge in fastbreak points.

Houston out-rebounded the Owls 40-32 in the game.

Houston's DeJon Jarreau did not play in the game. Broadcast reports indicate Jarreau did not play due to a violation of team rules. Coach Sampson did not discuss it after the game.

NEXT

Rice: November 17, at 2 p.m., vs Northwesern State. The match-up is also part of the Men Against Breast Cancer Cup.

Houston: November 19, at 7 p.m., vs Northwestern State. The match-up is also part of the Men Against Breast Cancer Cup.

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