JoJo Tugler scores 17 in Coogs 80-44 win over Hofstra

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POSTED: November 23, 2024 -- 8:15 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- Fertitta Center

The Houston Cougars defeated the Hofstra Pride, 80-44, Friday night, behind a balanced scoring attack led by sophomore big man JoJo Tugler. Tugler scored a career-high 17 points on perfect field goal shooting: 6 for 6, including 2 for 2 from three-point range.

After the game, Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson tempered expectations regarding Tugler's perfect night from the floor.

"JoJo will never shoot like that the rest of the year, that's once in a blue moon night," Coach Sampson remarked. "The best shooters miss six out of ten, well he's not one of the best shooters, at best he's a three for ten guy after you average it all out."

Houston (3-1) scored the first 7 points of the game as Emanuel Sharp split 2 free throws before nailing two deep three-point shots.

Hofstra (4-2) cut Houston's lead to 1 (7-6) with back-to-back three-point baskets; however, Houston responded with a 20-4 run and led 27-10 with 8:37 remaining in the first half.

Tugler scored 8 of his 17 points during the run. Freshman guard Mercy Miller swished a baseline jumper to begin the run. Tugler followed with a putback layup. After Miller swished a second baseline jumper, Tugler ended Houston's big run with his second three-point bucket.

The Coogs led by as much as 33 (48-15) in the first half and led 48-18 at the halftime break.

Hofstra outscored Houston 12-6 in the first 4 minutes of the second half; but, Houston responded with a 12-0 run to eliminate any hint of a Hofstra comeback victory. Houston senior guard LJ Cryer swished a three-point shot to jump start the run. Tugler added 3 free throws while Emanuel Sharp swished 2 more three-point attempts.

Sharp finished the game 5 for 5 from three-point range and scored 16 points in the victory.

Houston outscored Hofstra 17-5 in points off turnovers; 44-10 in bench points; 26-14 in the paint; and 7-0 in fast break points.

In addition to Tugler's 17 points and Sharp's 16 points, Houston forward Terrance Arceneaux added 12 points on 5 for 7 field goal shooting.

The Coogs dished out 20 assists on 29 made field goals. Houston shot 46.8 fg% (29 for 62) in the game including 12 for 24 (50.0 3pt%) from three.

Mercy Miller led the Coogs with 9 rebounds. After the game, Miller mentioned during the postgame media session: "I get to sign the [rebounding] bubble," Miller said. "Doing things like that [rebounds] in the end to help the team. Just going out there to compete, give it my all."

"People will say when we beat a team like that, well they're no good," Coach Sampson added. "That team (Hofstra) is pretty good. Sometimes it's not necessarily them, maybe it's the team that is playing against them that's pretty good. And, tonight, we were pretty good."

Next: Houston's next game is Tuesday, November 26, versus Alabama, in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Tip is set for 7:30 pm CT and airs on TBS.

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