Coogs defeat USF in foul-filled game to improve to 18-1 overall and 5-1 AAC

POSTED: January 20, 2019 -- 6:20 a.m. CST

TAMPA, FL -- In a game with 62 fouls called (33 on Houston), the Houston Cougars managed to grit-and-grind to a 69-60 road victory over the USF Bulls Saturday night. Houston improves to 18-1 overall and 5-1 in the American Athletic Conference.

"Not aesthetically pleasing," Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said after the game. "I felt bad that people had to watch that."

The teams combined to shoot 76 free throws: Houston was 28 for 35 from the foul line while USF was 27 for 41.

Houston senior Breaon Brady scored 13 points to lead the Coogs. Junior guard Armoni Brooks scored 11 and freshman Nate Hinton scored 10.

David Collins led USF (12-6, 2-4) with 23 points, 21 of them after halftime. Alexis Yetna scored 12, none in the second half.

The Coogs led 7-2; but, USF tied the game at 8. Then, Houston led 15-8 before USF scored 6 in a row.

With 3:58 remaining in the first half, Houston led 23-19. At the point of the game, Houston and USF combined for 10 baskets (6 for UH); 12 turnovers (5 for UH); and 23 fouls (12 for UH). Five different Coogs had 2 fouls while 3 different Bulls had 2 fouls.

Houston ended the half with a 16-6 run to lead USF 35-25 at halftime. Houston redshirt-junior post Chris Harris, Jr. had a productive 7 minutes to close the first half with 5 points, 4 boards, and 1 blocked shot.

Houston led 47-31 with 15:01 remaining in the second half; but, the Bulls went on a 12-0 run in 4 and half minutes. Redshirt-sophomore, Brison Gresham, converted a three-point play to end Houston's drought; and, senior guard Galen Robinson, Jr. scored a lay-up to boost the lead to 52-43 with 9:42 remaining.

USF pulled within 7 (54-47); but, Houston responded with a 9-3 run to lead 63-50 with 2:16 left in the ball game.

The Bulls made one final push and got within 66-60 with 24 seconds to go in the game; but, Houston sank three free throws to seal the scoring and earn the hard fought win.

"We just played a team that is very, very good and never gets out of sorts, in terms of what they try to get done offensively and defensively," USF Head Coach Brian Gregory said after the game. "I thought we did some good things, but not enough to beat a team like Houston. It's hard to have the turnovers we had in the backcourt, and it's hard to have quality looks and not be able to make any of them. I thought we fought pretty hard, but Houston got every 50-50 ball, not because we weren't playing hard, but because they just play at a whole other level, and that's why they are good."

One particular play during the second half typified Houston's winning the 50-50 balls: players from both teams were on the floor battling for the ball; and, ultimately, Galen Robinson, Jr. scored to put Houston up 59-49.

"Two teams playing hard, competing," Sampson said. "We had just enough bodies to get through."

NOTE:

Galen Robinson, Jr., who finished with five points and two assists, joined Derrick Daniels as the only players in school history with four 100-plus assist seasons. Galen is four assists away from becoming the sixth player in program history with 500 in a career.

NEXT:

Houston hosts ECU, Wednesday, January 23, at 7 p.m. ESPN3 will show the game.

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