No. 18 Houston advances in AAC with 69-56 win over Cincy
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Houston looked more like itself in the second half, with the 18th-ranked Cougars counting on big man Fabian White Jr. to finish off their American Athletic Conference tournament opener.
White was 5-of-7 shooting while scoring 11 of his 18 points after halftime, and finished with eight rebounds, and the Cougars overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Cincinnati 69-56 in an AAC quarterfinal game Friday.
''Once we got to halftime, we just came up with a new plan ... here's what we're going to do, play through Fabian and extend our pick-and-roll defense,'' Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson said. ''Cincinnati played with a lot of confidence that first half, whereas we played like this was our first game of the tournament.''
It was, and came only five days after the Cougars (27-5), an NCAA Final Four team last season, dropped their regular-season finale 75-61 at Memphis to end a six-game winning streak.
''Second half, we looked more like us,'' Sampson said.
White had two jumpers and fellow first-team All-AAC forward Josh Carlton also added two baskets in a 12-0 run that put Houston (27-5) ahead to stay during a stretch when the Bearcats started missing every shot - they missed plenty all day against a defense that allows teams less than 60 points a game on 37% shooting.
This was the fourth AAC tournament in a row in which Cincinnati and Houston played each other. The previous three had been in championship games, with the Bearcats winning in 2018 and 2019 before the Cougars won 91-54 for last year's title after the 2020 tournament was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eighth-seeded Bearcats (18-15) had to play a first-round game for the first time in their nine AAC tournaments, and beat East Carolina 74-63 on Thursday to advance. Cincinnati had finished the regular season by losing its last five games and seven of eight.
''I'm really proud of our guys. I thought they fought like absolute crazy tonight and yesterday,'' first-year Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said. ''Given the way we finished the year in the win-loss column, I think you have to recognize that. ... This group has been admirable throughout the last four weeks, through a tough stretch to keep trying to come back and figure it out.''
Jamal Shead had 15 points and seven assists for the Cougars, and Kyler Edwards had 12 points.
Jeremiah Davenport and John Newman III had 13 points each for Cincinnati, which shot season-low 28.8% (17 of 59), which included seven of 32 on 3-pointers. Newman was 6 of 9 shooting while Davenport was 4 of 14, making only 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. Mika Adams Woods scored 10 points.
The Cougars had their first lead since 2-0 in the game's opening minute when Shead had a alley-oop pass to Carlton for an easy basket that put them up 40-39 with 14:14 left. Carlton, who was scoreless in the first half when he played only five minutes because of foul trouble, wrapped up the go-ahead 12-0 run with a reverse layup.
White later extended the lead with a strong inside hook shot followed by a 3-pointer.
''I was just trying to be a better leader than the 1st half ... my energy and effort really, I was trying to lead by example,'' said White, who is in his fifth season with the Cougars. ''Our mindset is keep playing games as long as y'all let us.''
Cincinnati made its first two shots of the second half, and led 37-27 on Davenport's layup with 18:42 left. Taze Moore then made a 3-pointer for the Cougars, before Newman's jumper for the Bearcats, who had fallen behind for good by time Davenport made a 3-pointer midway through the second half to end a streak of 11 consecutive missed shots.
BIG PICTURE
Cincinnati: The Bearcats have a 33-11 series lead, but have lost their last six games against Houston. That includes all three by double digits this season. ... DeJulius, their leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, finished with nine points on 3-of-16 shooting. He missed eight of nine from 3-point range, the only made 3 being a step-back shot for a 30-27 lead before halftime.
Houston: The Cougars are 6-0 in games at Dickies Arena, which next week will host an NCAA regional. They are 4-0 in AAC tournament games, and regular-season victories over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State the last two seasons.
UP NEXT
Houston, in the AAC tournament semifinals for the fourth consecutive time, plays Tulane (14-14) on Saturday. The fifth-seeded Green Wave beat Temple 69-60 in their quarterfinal game.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Abdul Ado vs. Josh Carlton (Jeremiah Davenport gains possession) | Â | |
19:33 | Â | David DeJulius misses three point jump shot | Â | |
19:31 | Â | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | Â | |
19:22 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
19:01 | +3 | Jeremiah Davenport makes three point jump shot (John Newman III assists) | 3-2 | |
18:42 | Â | Josh Carlton turnover (lost ball) (Abdul Ado steals) | Â | |
18:30 | Â | Josh Carlton blocks David DeJulius's two point layup | Â | |
18:28 | Â | Fabian White Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
18:16 | Â | Fabian White Jr. offensive foul (John Newman III draws the foul) | Â | |
18:16 | Â | Fabian White Jr. turnover | Â | |
18:01 | +3 | Jeremiah Davenport makes three point jump shot (John Newman III assists) | 6-2 | |
17:43 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:41 | Â | Fabian White Jr. offensive rebound | Â | |
17:33 | Â | Fabian White Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:31 | Â | Kyler Edwards offensive rebound | Â | |
17:25 | Â | Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:23 | Â | Fabian White Jr. offensive rebound | Â | |
17:11 | Â | Fabian White Jr. misses two point hook shot | Â | |
17:11 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods defensive rebound | Â | |
17:11 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:09 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport offensive rebound | Â | |
17:09 | Â | Taze Moore personal foul (Jeremiah Davenport draws the foul) | Â | |
16:53 | +2 | David DeJulius makes two point jump shot (Mika Adams-Woods assists) | 8-2 | |
16:34 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods shooting foul (Taze Moore draws the foul) | Â | |
16:34 | +1 | Taze Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-3 | |
16:34 | +1 | Taze Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-4 | |
16:17 | Â | John Newman III misses two point jump shot | Â | |
16:15 | Â | Ody Oguama offensive rebound | Â | |
16:10 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot | Â | |
16:08 | Â | Ody Oguama offensive rebound | Â | |
16:08 | Â | Josh Carlton personal foul (Ody Oguama draws the foul) | Â | |
16:01 | Â | Kyler Edwards shooting foul (David DeJulius draws the foul) | Â | |
16:01 | +1 | David DeJulius makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-4 | |
16:01 | +1 | David DeJulius makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-4 | |
15:41 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses three point jump shot | Â | |
15:39 | Â | Ody Oguama defensive rebound | Â | |
15:26 | Â | David DeJulius misses three point jump shot | Â | |
15:24 | Â | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | Â | |
15:12 | Â | Josh Carlton offensive foul (Ody Oguama draws the foul) | Â | |
15:12 | Â | Josh Carlton turnover | Â | |
15:12 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
14:57 | Â | Ody Oguama misses two point jump shot | Â | |
14:55 | Â | J'wan Roberts defensive rebound | Â | |
14:41 | Â | J'wan Roberts turnover (lost ball) (Mike Saunders Jr. steals) | Â | |
14:22 | +3 | John Newman III makes three point jump shot (David DeJulius assists) | 13-4 | |
14:03 | Â | Ody Oguama personal foul (J'wan Roberts draws the foul) | Â | |
13:54 | +2 | Fabian White Jr. makes two point hook shot | 13-6 | |
13:36 | +2 | Mike Saunders Jr. makes two point layup (John Newman III assists) | 15-6 | |
13:09 | Â | Viktor Lakhin shooting foul (Fabian White Jr. draws the foul) | Â | |
13:09 | +1 | Fabian White Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-7 | |
13:09 | +1 | Fabian White Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-8 | |
12:50 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods misses two point layup | Â | |
12:48 | Â | J'wan Roberts defensive rebound | Â | |
12:36 | Â | Jarrett Hensley shooting foul (J'wan Roberts draws the foul) | Â | |
12:36 | Â | J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
12:36 | Â | J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
12:36 | Â | J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
12:36 | Â | Bearcats defensive rebound | Â | |
12:36 | Â | Taze Moore personal foul | Â | |
12:14 | Â | Hayden Koval misses three point jump shot | Â | |
12:12 | Â | Cougars defensive rebound | Â | |
12:00 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot | 15-10 | |
11:35 | Â | J'wan Roberts shooting foul (Jarrett Hensley draws the foul) | Â | |
11:35 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:35 | Â | Jarrett Hensley misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
11:35 | +1 | Jarrett Hensley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-10 | |
11:35 | +1 | Jarrett Hensley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-10 | |
11:20 | +2 | Kyler Edwards makes two point jump shot (Ramon Walker Jr. assists) | 16-12 | |
10:54 | Â | Abdul Ado turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Chaney steals) | Â | |
10:48 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:46 | Â | Jarrett Hensley defensive rebound | Â | |
10:46 | Â | Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul (Jarrett Hensley draws the foul) | Â | |
10:46 | +1 | Jarrett Hensley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-12 | |
10:46 | +1 | Jarrett Hensley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-12 | |
10:36 | Â | Kyler Edwards turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
10:20 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport misses two point jump shot | Â | |
10:18 | Â | J'wan Roberts defensive rebound | Â | |
10:10 | Â | Jamal Shead turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
9:45 | Â | Reggie Chaney blocks David DeJulius's three point jump shot | Â | |
9:43 | Â | David DeJulius offensive rebound | Â | |
9:39 | Â | David DeJulius misses three point jump shot | Â | |
9:37 | Â | Abdul Ado offensive rebound | Â | |
9:34 | Â | Jamal Shead personal foul (Mike Saunders Jr. draws the foul) | Â | |
9:34 | +1 | Mike Saunders Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-12 | |
9:34 | +1 | Mike Saunders Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-12 | |
9:15 | +2 | J'wan Roberts makes two point layup (Jamal Shead assists) | 20-14 | |
9:01 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport turnover (out of bounds) | Â | |
8:41 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot | 20-16 | |
8:14 | Â | Jamal Shead flagrant 1 (Abdul Ado draws the foul) | Â | |
8:14 | Â | Official timeout | Â | |
8:14 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
8:14 | Â | Abdul Ado misses flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
8:14 | +1 | Abdul Ado makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 21-16 | |
8:05 | +2 | John Newman III makes two point jump shot (Mike Saunders Jr. assists) | 23-16 | |
7:53 | Â | Mike Saunders Jr. personal foul (Kyler Edwards draws the foul) | Â | |
7:42 | +2 | Kyler Edwards makes two point layup (Jamal Shead assists) | 23-18 | |
7:42 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport shooting foul (Kyler Edwards draws the foul) | Â | |
7:42 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
7:42 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods defensive rebound | Â | |
7:18 | +2 | Ody Oguama makes two point layup | 25-18 | |
7:18 | Â | Reggie Chaney shooting foul (Ody Oguama draws the foul) | Â | |
7:18 | Â | Ody Oguama misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
7:18 | Â | Taze Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
7:04 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses two point jump shot | Â | |
7:02 | Â | David DeJulius defensive rebound | Â | |
6:36 | Â | David DeJulius misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:34 | Â | Reggie Chaney defensive rebound | Â | |
6:18 | +3 | Fabian White Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists) | 25-21 | |
6:03 | Â | Mika Adams-Woods misses two point jump shot | Â | |
6:01 | Â | Taze Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
6:02 | Â | Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Taze Moore draws the foul) | Â | |
6:02 | +1 | Taze Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-22 | |
6:02 | +1 | Taze Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-23 | |
5:36 | Â | Jump ball. Viktor Lakhin vs. J'wan Roberts (J'wan Roberts gains possession) | Â | |
5:36 | Â | Viktor Lakhin turnover (lost ball) (J'wan Roberts steals) | Â | |
5:26 | Â | Taze Moore misses three point jump shot | Â | |
5:24 | Â | Fabian White Jr. offensive rebound | Â | |
5:18 | Â | Fabian White Jr. misses two point layup | Â | |
5:16 | Â | Jamal Shead offensive rebound | Â | |
5:04 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point layup | 25-25 | |
4:42 | Â | David DeJulius misses two point jump shot | Â | |
4:40 | Â | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | Â | |
4:15 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses three point jump shot | Â | |
4:13 | Â | Jarrett Hensley defensive rebound | Â | |
3:44 | Â | Fabian White Jr. shooting foul (Mika Adams-Woods draws the foul) | Â | |
3:44 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:44 | +1 | Mika Adams-Woods makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-25 | |
3:44 | +1 | Mika Adams-Woods makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-25 | |
3:16 | Â | Mike Saunders Jr. shooting foul (Kyler Edwards draws the foul) | Â | |
3:15 | Â | Kyler Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | Â | |
3:15 | +1 | Kyler Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 27-26 | |
3:15 | +1 | Kyler Edwards makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 27-27 | |
2:52 | Â | Mike Saunders Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
2:50 | Â | Taze Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
2:36 | Â | Abdul Ado personal foul (Kyler Edwards draws the foul) | Â | |
2:37 | Â | J'wan Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
2:37 | Â | John Newman III defensive rebound | Â | |
2:13 | +3 | David DeJulius makes three point jump shot | 30-27 | |
1:42 | Â | Kyler Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Mike Saunders Jr. steals) | Â | |
1:25 | Â | J'wan Roberts shooting foul (Jeremiah Davenport draws the foul) | Â | |
1:25 | +1 | Jeremiah Davenport makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-27 | |
1:25 | +1 | Jeremiah Davenport makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-27 | |
1:08 | Â | Fabian White Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:06 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport defensive rebound | Â | |
0:47 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:45 | Â | Abdul Ado offensive rebound | Â | |
0:43 | Â | Jump ball. Abdul Ado vs. Taze Moore (Taze Moore gains possession) | Â | |
0:43 | Â | Abdul Ado turnover (lost ball) (Taze Moore steals) | Â | |
0:26 | Â | Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:24 | Â | Jeremiah Davenport defensive rebound | Â | |
0:19 | Â | Bearcats 30 second timeout | Â | |
0:01 | Â | David DeJulius misses two point jump shot | Â | |
0:00 | Â | Bearcats offensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |