Houston Cougars pull away and rout Texas State

POSTED: December 30, 2011 -- 11:59 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- Joseph Young scored a career-high 25 points Friday night as the Houston Cougars rolled past the Texas State Bobcats 94-71 in front of an announced Hofheinz Pavilion crowd of 3081 fans.

Young's 25 points led four other Coogs in double figures. Alandise Harris scored 17 points. TaShawn Thomas scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds (blocked five shots, too). Jonathan Simmons added 15 points and nine rebounds while Darian Thibodeaux chipped in 11 points.

The Coogs dominated the Bobcats on the glass 52-25.

Young said, "We played with intensity to get more rebounds than them and beat them to the boards and not let them get second shots."

Thomas scored the game's first two points; then, Thibodeaux drained back-to-back three-point shots as part of a 10-0 start for the Cougars. Houston's aggressive defense limited the Bobcats to 1 for 7 shooting. Jonathan Simmons drained a three-point shot to stretch Houston's lead to 25-4 with 10:33 remaining in the first half.

The stellar start by the Cougars featured only one turnover in nine minutes of action. The start seemed almost too good to be true. It was. The Cougars turned the ball over 12 times the rest of the half; and, Texas State closed out the half trailing just 42-35 at halftime.

"We built up a twenty point lead," said UH head coach James Dickey. "Then, we got into foul trouble. I didn't do a good job of managing the guys during that time.

"As a result, instead of coming in with a 20 plus lead, our lead was down to seven (at halftime). We had a few people in foul trouble and got caught in worrying about the fouls rather than playing basketball."

Texas State's Matt Staff made a three-point shot to cap off a 9-4 Bobcats' run to start the second half and trim Houston's lead just four points (48-44).

Joseph Young answered Staff's three with his own three-point basket. Staff hit two free throws; but, Young quickly made a jump shot before Alandise Harris scored four consecutive points to give the Coogs a 57-46 lead. Young scored five more points; and, Harris and Thomas threw down dunks to help increase the lead to 70-50 at the 10:04 mark of the ball game.

"I thought we played an outstanding second half until the last couple of minutes," Coach Dickey added. "We got a little bit sloppy."

Friday's win over the Bobcats was a stark contrast to the Coogs' 81-78 road loss to Texas State on December 6. In that game, the Cougars watched the Bobcats score 50 first half points before attempting a mad scramble in the second half comeback that fell short.

The Cougars have won four straight games at home. Protecting home court has become important to the young Cougars' team; and, the history of team success inside Hofheinz Pavilion serves as motivation.

"All the banners. All the history that's come through this building," said TaShawn Thomas.

The Coogs conclude a five-game homestand when they begin Conference USA competition Wednesday, January 4, versus Tulsa. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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