Houston Cougars defeat 5th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats 67-62

Posted: February 15, 2018 -- 11:41 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- The Houston Cougars earned a very hard-fought 67-62 win over the 5th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday night in front of a loud 5363 fans. Houston earned its second win over a top 10 opponent this season. Houston's first top-10 win this season was January 20th, 2018, over then-Number 7 ranked Wichita State 73-59.

"There was a number of times down the stretch where their energy carried us and gave us the energy to get stops and get buckets when we needed them," said Houston's Corey Davis Jr after the game.

"Hearing them cheering defense really kept us locked in. Thanks to the fans," Houston senior Devin Davis added.

"It was amazing to see all of the fans behind us like that and it was exciting to celebrate with the other 14 guys on this team," Devin acknowledged.

Final stats: Houston 67, Cincinnati 62

Houston last beat two top-10 teams in a season in 1984, when it did that four times en route to the national championship game.

The Cougars recorded their first win over an AP Top-5 team since a 69-67 win over No. 3 Memphis January 6, 1996, inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston, TX.

Houston improves to 20-5 on the season and 10-3 in the American Athletic Conference.

Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson became the first coach in program history with three 20 plus win seasons in his first four years at Houston.

Cincinnati (23-3, 12-1 in The American) jumped to a 13 point lead (19-6) in the first 8:23 of the ball game. Cincinnati's Jarron Cumberland knocked down two three-point shots during the run while Houston struggled to make shots and hold on to the basketball.

"This game was really similar to last game we played against them, except maybe role reversal," said Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "We came out, really punched Cincinnati hard, and went up 18. Tonight, they came out and punched us hard, but the roles were the same after that. They got up thirteen, we come down and I think our biggest lead was seven. We outscored them by 20 at one point, we were up 18 and then they came back and won by 10. That’s what good teams do, though. We knew there were some things we had to improve, namely rebounding, from the first time we played them."

Houston had 5 turnovers and just 3 baskets.

Houston, however, settled down and made 2 of 4 field goal attempts during a 7-2 run to inch within 8 points (21-13) at the 8:39 mark of the first half.

The Bearcats cooled offense and made three field goals the rest of the half which helped the Coogs claw within three points (27-24) at halftime. Devin Davis capped the first-half scoring with a 15-foot jumper.

After the sluggish start, the Coogs made 7 of their last 15 field goal attempts in the first half while the Bearcats made 5 of their last 14 field goal attempts.

Devin Davis scored 10 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in the first half.

Corey Davis Jr opened the second-half with a steal and lay-up to bring the Coogs within 27-26 of the Bearcats. Cincinnati's Kyle Washington made a jumper for a 29-26 lead; then, Houston's Galen Robinson Jr drained a long two-point jump shot.

After Gary Clark sank two free throws for a 31-28 Bearcats' lead, Corey Davis Jr swished a three-point shot to tie the game at 31.

The game stayed tight the entire second half.

Houston tied the game at 35. Cincinnati tied the game at 37 and at 42.

Devin Davis made another jump shot for a 44-42 Houston lead with 10:34 on the clock. Then, Armoni Brooks sank two of three free throws for a 46-42 lead.

Corey Davis Jr swished another catch-and-shoot three-pointer for a 49-44 Houston lead.

Then, Houston went scoreless six minutes.

The Bearcats did not make any field goals; but, Houston sent the Bearcats to the foul line repeatedly and Cincinnati took advantage and led 50-49 with 4:18 remaining in the game.

Despite struggling to make a shot for 35 minutes, Rob Gray sank a three-point shot to put Houston ahead 52-50 at the 3:32 mark. Gray was 1 for 10 from the floor prior to the big three-point basket.

After Cincinnati missed another field goal, Houston sophomore Armoni Brooks swished a three-point shot for a 55-50 lead with 2:04 remaining.

Corey Davis Jr stole the ball from Jarron Cumberland and scored a lay-up for a 57-50 Houston lead with 1:47 left in the ball game.

The game seemed over; but, the Coogs continued sending the Bearcats to the foul line. Cincinnati got as close as five a few times; but each time Houston made free throws to increase the lead to 7.

Leading 63-56, Corey Davis Jr picked up his fifth foul on a lay-up by Jacob Evans III. Davis Jr fouled out with 18 seconds on the clock. Evans III's lay-up was Cincinnati's first made field goal in 11 minutes 56 seconds. Evans III missed the free throw; but, Houston's Fabian White was whistled for a loose ball on Jarron Cumberland.

Cumberland split the two free throws; and, White Jr. grabbed the missed shot and was fouled with 16 seconds on the clock. White Jr made both free throws for a 65-59 lead.

Evans III missed a three-point shot; and, Rob Gray snared the rebound and was fouled with 4 seconds on the clock. Gray made both free throws before Evans III made a three-point shot to beat the buzzer for the final 67-62 score.

"I think this was a game we expected to win," Sampson said. "Cincinnati is really good, well coached, great culture and program. Mick Cronin deserves a lot of credit for what he has done over the years there, he really does. Our program has just come a long way. I think back to 2014 and what we had to endure that year. Every ounce of the credit goes to these kids. I can’t tell you how proud I am of their toughness, competitiveness and grit. This is not a game that was ever going to be pretty, for them or for us. We’re ranked in the top 20 defense nationally, they’re in the top two or three, so two tough defensive teams. It wasn’t going to be pretty."

Corey Davis Jr and Devin Davis both scored 16 points for the Coogs. Devin also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Rob Gray scored 13 points on 3 for 13 shooting. Gray was clutch down the stretch sinking 2 of his last 3 shot attempts.

"There was a thought there (to take Gray out of the game down the stretch)," said Sampson. "We got going when he was on the bench the first half, but we’ve done that before. That’s why I tell people, we don’t live and die with A guy. Our best player in many games is Devin, sometimes it’s Corey, or look how many times Armoni is our best player. This is not last year’s team, or the year before, it’s this year’s. A strength on this team is our depth. But, I stuck with Rob because I believe in him; but I can’t point to one guy."

Armoni Brooks scored 12 points off the bench. Nura Zanna pulled down 8 rebounds including 5 on the offensive boards. Zanna's rebounds and defense were a big plus for Houston tonight.

"You know I grabbed Nura at practice on Tuesday, and I said to him ‘You understand that you’re here for this game, play against these guys’. This is not a game for boys, this is a game for grown men and Nura is a grown man," Sampson said proudly. "Having been through this league a couple times and having played against these guys with what we had before. It wasn’t a fair fight. You correct that by recruiting and that’s what we have done pretty effectively. You recruit specific things, we needed strength, bulk and toughness. That is why we brought in as many bigs as we did. We had a plan for them and we have executed that plan. This game was Nura’s. He was brought here to play in games like this."

Houston's next game is Sunday afternoon, February 18, at Temple. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game will air on the CBS Sports Network.

"Tomorrow’s practice is probably the biggest practice of the year," Devin Davis said matter-of-fact. "The next game against Temple is the biggest game of the year, too. We just need to stay locked in."

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