Top-ranked Houston routs Norfolk State, 100-52

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POSTED: November 30, 2022 -- 7:51 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- (Fertitta Center)

The top-ranked Houston Cougars dominated the Norfolk State Spartans 100-52 Tuesday night. Houston (7-0) never trailed in the game. Houston erupted with a 42-7 run to turn a one point lead (6-5) to a 36 point lead (48-12) in the first half.

Houston led 54-20 at halftime. Four Houston players scored in double-digits in the first half. Marcus Sasser scored 14 in the half. Tramon Mark and Jamal Shead each scored 12 and J'Wan Roberts added 10 points.

Houston scored 1.8 points per possession in the opening half. The Coogs made 10 three-pointers (18 attempts) and 10 two-point shots (14 attempts) in the half.

Norfolk State, on the other hand, shot 10% (1 for 10) from three and 7 for 14 from two. The Spartans had more turnovers (11) than made baskets (8) in the first half. Norfolk State scored 0.645 points per possession in the opening 20 minutes.

Houston's offense continued rolling in the second half. The Coogs increased the lead to 71-27 with 14:35 remaining in the ball game. Norfolk State sliced 6 points off that lead to get within 38 three different times. However, Houston finished the game with a 20-10 spurt for the final 48 point margin.

After the game, Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said, "Tonight, the emphasis was on ball movement; body movement; and execution."

Houston shot 57.6fg% (38 for 66) Tuesday night and had 26 assists and 9 turnovers. In Houston's 49-44 win over Kent State Saturday afternoon, the Coogs had 23 turnovers, 9 assists, and shot 32.0fg% (16 of 50).

Coach Sampson said, "The ball moved. Somebody else moved. That's why he had so many assists tonight. Saturday, we were basically an iso team. And, we're no good being an iso team."

Houston shot 51.5 3pt-fg% and made a Fertitta Center record 17 three-pointers Tuesday night. Houston guard Ryan Elvin made the final three-pointer of the game and helped Houston hit the 100 point mark with the three-point bucket.

"Ryan Elvin is a good player," Coach Sampson commented. "He's not a rotation guy; but, he practices against these guys everyday. And, he's got to the point where he makes them better in practice. I was really proud of Ryan today. Ryan's a good player. He's not some kind of novelty piece. He can play."

After the game, Coach Sampson mentioned his team's defense is ahead of its offense because more time is spent on defense early in the season.

"Right now, we work on defense. We work on rebounding. We work on culture stuff," Coach Sampson acknowledged. "And, we're really good at that early. Offensively, (shaking his head) we get better as we go."

"Sunday, we worked on offense. Probably the first time all year that's all we did is work on offense. Usually, we're so defense dominant. The last two days we were offense dominant."

Houston finished the game with 5 double-digit scorers. Marcus Sasser scored a game-high 25 points. Tramon Mark was next with 16 points. Jamal Shead scored 12 and added a game-high 11 assists. Big Ja'Vier Francis scored 11 points off the bench (5 for 5 fgs) and J'Wan Roberts scored 10 points.

NEXT: The Coogs' next game is Saturday, December 3, against St. Mary's, at Dickies Arena as part of the Battleground2K 2022. Tip is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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