Coogs move to 3-0 with 82-55 win over Northwestern State

Posted: November 19, 2018 -- 11:35 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- The Houston Cougars defeated the Northwestern State Demons 82-55 Monday night in Houston's penultimate basketball game inside Texas Southern's H&PE Arena. With the win, the Coogs are 3-0 this season and extend their winning streak inside H&PE Arena to 18.

Chris Harris Jr's 13 points were a career-high. In addition to the 13 points, Harris Jr blocked two shots and pulled down 5 rebounds in 18 minutes.

"Yesterday was his best practice, yet;" Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said. So, it makes a lot of sense that tonight he got his chance. We tell our five starters that if one person isn't ready to go, we'll move to the next man up."

Corey Davis Jr did not start the ball game; but, he scored 13 points in nearly 18 minutes in the second half.

After the game, Coach Sampson said Davis Jr did not start the game because he showed up late.

"Corey Davis showed up late; and I don't want to make a big deal of it," Coach Sampson said. "But, the foundation of our program has always been discipline.

"Corey is a great kid. When you discipline kids, the immature ones usually pout. But, Corey is a rock. He showed up late; and, I told him good people make mistakes, too. But, we have a rule. I thought he came in the second half; and, then, we really got going."

With Davis Jr on the bench in the first half, point Galen Robinson Jr played the entire first half; and, newcomer Landon Goesling played 16 first half minutes. Goesling scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half.

Houston's offense wasn't as efficient as it usually is with Davis Jr; and, as a result, Houston shot 40.7% (11 for 27) from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

Houston led Northwestern State 39-28 at halftime.

In the second half, with Davis Jr., Houston shot 50.0% (17 for 34) from the floor.

Northwestern State scored the first two points of the second half to trim Houston's lead to 39-30. Houston responded with a 14-0 run to lead 53-30 at the 13:28 mark of the second half.

The Demons did not get closer than 19 points the rest of the game.

Houston had a few issues clearing the defensive boards in the first half; but, Houston corrected the issues in the second half. The Demons outrebounded the Coogs 22-18 (8-5 offensive rebounds) in the first half; however, owned the boards in the second half with a 23-12 (12-5 offensive boards) edge.

"First half, we were having a lot of mental lapses and breakdowns," said Galen Robinson Jr. "Little things that cause the other team to score. In the second half, we made the proper adjustments and substitutions. We played Cougar basketball the second half."

NEXT

Houston: November 24, at BYU. Tip is set for 5 p.m.

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