Coogs scored 51 second-half points and topped Butler 79-51

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POSTED: December 7, 2024 -- 9:55 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- Fertitta Center

The Houston Cougars' offense erupted for 51 second-half points in a 79-51 victory over the Butler Bulldogs Saturday evening. With the win, Houston (5-3) even the Big 12 - Big East Battle 5-5 this season. Butler is now 7-2 with today's loss.

The Coogs' defense was locked in and disrupted the Bulldogs' offense for most of the first half. However, Houston's offense was out-of-sync with 7 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game.

With 7:56 remaining in the opening half, Houston had more turnovers (7)than Butler had points (6). The Coogs led 14-6 despite Butler's shooting an ice-cold 2 for 17 from the floor.

Houston ended the first-half with a slam dunk by graduate forward J'Wan Roberts (assist from Milos Uzan).

Uzan scored a team-high 7 points for Houston in the first half.

Houston led Butler 28-18 at halftime.

Butler shot 25.0 fg% (5 for 25) in the first half.

Four minutes into the second half, Butler nearly matched its 5 made first-half goals with 4 for 6 shooting. Houston made 4 of 5 shots to maintain the 10 point lead (37-27) with 15:45 on the clock.

Milos Uzan made 3 of his 4 field goal attempts in the first 8 minutes of the second half and Houston's offense was crisper. Consequently, Houston made 8 of 11 field goal attempts and led 48-32 with 12:07 on the clock.

"Well, we scored fifty more in the second half by not changing anything," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach, said regarding what was different between the first half and the second half. "Just doing it harder, doing it faster, doing it more confidently, having more of a purpose to what we're doing. I saw a lot of purposeful basketball."

After scoring 2 points in the first half, Houston guard LJ Cryer scored 18 points in the second half. Cryer made 7 of 10 field goal attempts including 4 for 5 three-pointers.

"First half, I liked the looks I was getting," Cryer said after the game. "It just didn't drop. Second half, they dropped. We ran the same stuff. We just executed. The ball went through the basket."

Uzan finished the game with 13 points on 6 for 11 shooting. After the game, Uzan said, "I'm getting super comfortable, and this week, Coach has emphasized staying aggressive. This takes the pressure off [L.J.] Cryer and [Emanuel] Sharp so I'm just going to continue to stay aggressive and be confident out there and I'm starting to understand offense for sure."

Emanuel Sharp scored 16 points (6 for 10 fgs - 4 for 7 threes); and, Terrance Arceneaux added 14 points (5 for 9 fgs; 4 for free throws).

Houston shot 53.3 fg% (32 for 60) for the game including 66.7 fg% (20 for 30 in the second half).

Houston out-rebounded Butler 41-22 and outscored Butler 28-6 in the paint.

"If you ask me what the one difference tonight was our discipline," Coach Sampson commented. "I thought we were much better at the little things. That has been a huge emphasis."

Next: Houston's next game is Tuesday, December 10, versus Troy. Tip is set for 7 pm CT and streams on ESPN+.

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