Coogs finish with 17-1 run to defeat Mustangs

Posted: February 8, 2018 -- 11:54 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- The Houston Cougars found a way to win Thursday night. Houston trailed 57-50 with 6:17 remaining in the ball game; but, Houston used a combination of good defense, timely baskets, and rebounding to finish the game with a 17-1 run to defeat the SMU Mustangs 67-58.

"We knew that it was going to be a tough game," said Houston sophomore guard Armoni Brooks after the game. "SMU is really a good team. They love to control the pace of the game. We knew that we had to get some stops to get out of transition. That’s where we are at our best, once we started putting stops together."

Final: Houston 67, SMU 58

"I feel like we are close to each other," Brooks added. "We all love each other. I think that really goes a long way when you are trying to win tough games. You know that you can trust each other and that they all have your back. I feel that we are all locked in on a goal."

Brooks scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his college career. Brooks shot 7 for 9 from three-point range; and, his hot three-point shooting ended two different slumbers on offense by the Coogs.

Houston trailed SMU 12-6 in the first half when Brooks came off the bench and knocked down four three-point shots during a 17-7 Houston run. Brooks' fifth three-point basket in the half put the Coogs ahead 31-26 with 3:14 remaining in the opening 20 minutes.

Houston led 36-33 at halftime.

The Mustangs began the second half sinking three consecutive three-point shots to lead the Coogs 42-36. After a Houston timeout, Brooks checked into the game and drained his sixth three-point shot of the game to end Houston's scoreless drought.

SMU boosted its lead to 46-39 before Houston's Rob Gray ended a zero for eight field goal drought with a bucket. Brooks followed with his seventh three-point basket to slice Houston's deficit to two (46-44) with 13 minutes remaining.

SMU big man Akoy Agau had his way with the Coogs in the post and scored a lay-up for a 48-44 lead. Gray scored 4 straight points to tie the game at 48.

The game was tied at 50; then, Mustangs went on a 7-0 run -- 4 from Agau -- to lead 57-50 with 6:17 on the game clock.

Neither team scored during the next 65 seconds; but, Houston's Corey Davis Jr ended the drought with a big three-point basket.

Devin Davis blocked a jump shot by SMU's Ben Emelogu II; then, Davis assisted on a three-point bucket by Wes VanBeck which pulled the Coogs within one points (57-56) with 4:38 on the clock.

The Mustangs called a 30-second timeout. After the timeout, SMU looked to Agau in the post; but, against tighter Houston defense, Agau threw the ball away for a turnover.

Rob Gray missed a jump shot; and, SMU's William Douglas missed a jumper on the Mustangs' possession. Corey Davis Jr grabbed the rebound a passed the ball to Gray. Gray scored a tough lay-up and was fouled. Gray made the free throw and Houston led 59-57 with 3:19 on the clock.

Houston's defense continued placing the squeeze on SMU and resulted in a steal by Armoni Brooks which led to another lay-up by Rob Gray.

In three minutes and 17 seconds, Houston outscored SMU 11-0 to lead 61-57.

"I think we picked up our intensity," Wes VanBeck said after the game. "We came out lackadaisical in the first half and in the beginning of the second. Coach called that quick timeout and let us know that these guys aren’t going to quit and that we’re going to need to go win it. It was a group effort in picking up our intensity."

Agau split two free throws at the 2:41 mark to end SMU's scoreless drought; but, Devin Davis tipped in a missed runner by Gray to stretch Houston's lead to 63-58 with 2:15 remaining in the ball game.

SMU did not score any more points the rest of the game.

The Mustangs did not make a field goal in the final six minutes and 50 seconds.

Houston outrebounded the SMU 36-26 in the game including 19-12 in the second half. Wes VanBeck snared all four of his rebounds in the final 2:15 to helped seal the win for the Coogs.

"The two guys that I was most proud of tonight were Armoni Brooks and Wes VanBeck," said Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson after the game. "I thought they were especially outstanding of the embodiment of our culture. Rob got it going offensively in the second half, but Wes made some key defensive plays and got some offensive rebounds. Armoni with 10 rebounds, but again that’s the strength of our team. We have depth. Two of our best players today came off the bench. Against UCF and Cincinnati, Corey and a bunch of other guys played well. It’s nice to know you have different players that you can dial their number up and they can come in and produce. I thought SMU competed harder than we did early, but that’s what they had to do. Congratulations to Coach Jankovich and his staff. They did a great job preparing their team, but again this ain’t a beauty contest. Great win for the Cougars, we’re 15-8, 8-3 and tied for second in the league, with seven games left."

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