Third-ranked Houston beats Texas State 72-37, runs season-opening win streak to 12 games
HOUSTON (AP) Emanuel Sharp scored 17 points, Ja’Vier Francis added 13 and No. 3 Houston beat Texas State 72-37 Thursday night.
Houston is one of three remaining undefeated teams, along with James Madison (11-0) and Ole Miss (11-0).
Houston improved to 12-0 for the third time in school history, joining the Cougar teams from 2018-19 and 1967-68. Houston also has a 12-game home winning streak dating to last season.
“Unbelievable,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said about Houston’s defense. “Our defense was really, really good the first half, but in the second half, it was even better. It’s hard to hold teams like this to 37 points.”
Jamal Shead also scored 11 points for Houston, which shot 43%, but struggled from long range, making 4 of 19 3-pointers.
The Cougars forced Texas State into a season-high 27 turnovers and converted those miscues into 27 points. The turnovers were also a season high for most turnovers Houston has forced.
“To turn a team over – 27 turnovers – and to do it for 40 minutes, a lot of teams in a game like tonight, it would have been a 10 or 15-point game the way we shot it, but we win by 35 because of our defense,” Sampson said. “That’s the defense. As you march across your season no matter who you play, you’re not going to have a lot of 80-point nights. … Your defense can be there every night.”
Kaden Gumbs scored seven points to lead Texas State (6-6). The Bobcats shot 29%, including 2 of 15 on 3-pointers.
“This is clearly the best defensive team in the country,” Texas State coach Terrence Johnson said. “We knew we were going to have some (turnovers). We thought we could see the reads a little clearer.
“Man, it’s hard to emulate this defense and the way they rotate and the physicality and tenacity they play with in practice. When you get out there, some things you have to adjust to, and we weren’t able to tonight.”
Leading 18-14 with six minutes remaining in the first half, Houston outscored the Bobcats 11-4 to take a 29-18 lead into halftime. L.J. Cryer had seven points in the run.
The Cougars opened the second half with a 20-4 run that extended their lead to 49-22 with 13 minutes remaining.
BIG PICTURE
Texas State: The Bobcats entered averaging 13 turnovers per game, but had turned it over 16 times at the half. … Texas State dropped to 11-82 all-time against current Big 12 members.
Houston: The Cougars kept a team under 20 points in a half eight times this season after holding Texas State under the mark in both halves. … Houston continued to be a force defensively, but also got it done in the paint, outscoring Texas State 42-18 in points in the paint.
UP NEXT
Texas State: Travels to James Madison on Dec. 30 to open Sun Belt Conference play.
Houston: Hosts Penn on Dec. 30 before beginning Big 12 Conference play Jan. 6 against West Virginia.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Brandon Love vs. Ja'Vier Francis (Jamal Shead gains possession) | |||
19:43 | +2 | Ja'Vier Francis makes two point jump shot (J'wan Roberts assists) | 0-2 | |
19:25 | Brandon Love turnover (traveling) | |||
19:08 | J'wan Roberts misses two point jump shot | |||
19:06 | Christian Turner defensive rebound | |||
18:56 | Kaden Gumbs turnover (bad pass) (J'wan Roberts steals) | |||
18:27 | Brandon Love personal foul | |||
18:23 | LJ Cryer turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Love steals) | |||
18:01 | Christian Turner turnover (bad pass) | |||
17:36 | +3 | Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists) | 0-5 | |
17:13 | Jordan Mason turnover (lost ball) (Emanuel Sharp steals) | |||
17:09 | Jordan Mason shooting foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul) | |||
17:09 | +1 | Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-6 | |
17:09 | +1 | Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-7 | |
16:58 | Dylan Dawson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:56 | J'wan Roberts defensive rebound | |||
16:44 | Christian Turner shooting foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul) | |||
16:44 | +1 | Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-8 | |
16:44 | Ja'Vier Francis misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
16:44 | Christian Turner defensive rebound | |||
16:22 | Christian Turner misses two point jump shot | |||
16:20 | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | |||
16:03 | LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
16:01 | Dylan Dawson defensive rebound | |||
15:53 | J'wan Roberts blocks Dylan Dawson's two point jump shot | |||
15:51 | Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound | |||
15:49 | TV timeout | |||
15:39 | LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
15:37 | Emanuel Sharp offensive rebound | |||
15:23 | Joseph Tugler misses two point layup | |||
15:21 | Josh O'Garro defensive rebound | |||
15:01 | Josh O'Garro turnover (lost ball) | |||
14:47 | Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot | |||
14:45 | Joseph Tugler offensive rebound | |||
14:40 | +2 | Damian Dunn makes two point jump shot | 0-10 | |
14:20 | Kaden Gumbs turnover (lost ball) (J'wan Roberts steals) | |||
14:12 | J'wan Roberts misses two point layup | |||
14:10 | Josh O'Garro defensive rebound | |||
14:06 | +2 | Kaden Gumbs makes two point layup | 2-10 | |
13:40 | Jordan Mason personal foul | |||
13:35 | Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot | |||
13:33 | Damian Dunn offensive rebound | |||
13:32 | Josh O'Garro shooting foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul) | |||
13:32 | +1 | Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-11 | |
13:32 | Damian Dunn misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
13:32 | Christian Turner defensive rebound | |||
13:31 | Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul | |||
13:24 | Coleton Benson misses three point jump shot | |||
13:22 | Brandon Love offensive rebound | |||
13:19 | Jump ball. Brandon Love vs. Ramon Walker Jr. (Bobcats gains possession) | |||
13:00 | Jamal Shead blocks Kaden Gumbs's two point jump shot | |||
12:59 | Bobcats offensive rebound | |||
12:59 | Bobcats turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
12:43 | Chris Nix blocks Joseph Tugler's two point layup | |||
12:41 | Joseph Tugler offensive rebound | |||
12:41 | Joseph Tugler misses two point layup | |||
12:39 | Bobcats defensive rebound | |||
12:39 | Emanuel Sharp personal foul | |||
12:29 | Bobcats turnover | |||
12:25 | Ramon Walker Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
12:23 | Christian Turner defensive rebound | |||
12:14 | Kaden Gumbs turnover (bad pass) | |||
11:44 | LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
11:42 | Kaden Gumbs defensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul | |||
11:42 | TV timeout | |||
11:25 | Elijah Tate misses three point jump shot | |||
11:23 | Mylik Wilson defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot | |||
11:10 | Chris Nix defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +2 | Elijah Tate makes two point layup (Christian Turner assists) | 4-11 | |
10:11 | J'wan Roberts offensive foul | |||
10:11 | J'wan Roberts turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:57 | Ja'Vier Francis blocks Elijah Tate's two point layup | |||
9:55 | Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound | |||
9:44 | Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot | |||
9:42 | Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound | |||
9:27 | +2 | Ja'Vier Francis makes two point dunk (Jamal Shead assists) | 4-13 | |
9:04 | +2 | Christian Turner makes two point layup (Dylan Dawson assists) | 6-13 | |
8:49 | Elijah Tate shooting foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul) | |||
8:49 | +1 | Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-14 | |
8:49 | Damian Dunn misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:49 | Brandon Love defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | Jordan Mason turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Shead steals) | |||
8:30 | +2 | Jamal Shead makes two point layup | 6-16 | |
8:05 | +3 | Dontae Horne makes three point jump shot (Jordan Mason assists) | 9-16 | |
7:34 | Damian Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Dontae Horne steals) | |||
7:29 | Dontae Horne turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Shead steals) | |||
7:23 | +2 | Ramon Walker Jr. makes two point layup (LJ Cryer assists) | 9-18 | |
6:54 | +2 | Brandon Love makes two point layup (Dontae Horne assists) | 11-18 | |
6:33 | Jamal Shead turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Love steals) | |||
6:30 | Jamal Shead personal foul | |||
6:30 | TV timeout | |||
6:27 | Brandon Love misses two point layup | |||
6:25 | Chris Nix offensive rebound | |||
6:19 | +3 | Dylan Dawson makes three point jump shot (Chris Nix assists) | 14-18 | |
6:07 | Ramon Walker Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Chris Nix steals) | |||
5:45 | Brandon Love misses two point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | +2 | Mylik Wilson makes two point layup | 14-20 | |
5:18 | Jump ball. Jordan Mason vs. Damian Dunn (Cougars gains possession) | |||
5:18 | Jordan Mason turnover (lost ball) (Damian Dunn steals) | |||
5:08 | +2 | LJ Cryer makes two point layup | 14-22 | |
4:48 | Kaden Gumbs misses two point jump shot | |||
4:46 | Damian Dunn defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | +2 | LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot | 14-24 | |
4:37 | Bobcats 30 second timeout | |||
4:22 | Jordan Mason misses two point jump shot | |||
4:20 | Mylik Wilson defensive rebound | |||
4:04 | Damian Dunn offensive foul | |||
4:04 | Damian Dunn turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:46 | Dylan Dawson turnover (bad pass) (Ramon Walker Jr. steals) | |||
3:28 | LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot | |||
3:26 | Bobcats defensive rebound | |||
3:26 | TV timeout | |||
3:14 | Jamal Shead blocks Kaden Gumbs's two point layup | |||
3:12 | Jamal Shead defensive rebound | |||
3:08 | Jamal Shead turnover (bad pass) | |||
2:53 | Dylan Dawson turnover (bad pass) (Emanuel Sharp steals) | |||
2:47 | Elijah Tate shooting foul (Emanuel Sharp draws the foul) | |||
2:47 | +1 | Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-25 | |
2:47 | +1 | Emanuel Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-26 | |
2:25 | +2 | Chris Nix makes two point layup (Kaden Gumbs assists) | 16-26 | |
2:05 | +3 | LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot | 16-29 | |
1:48 | Kaden Gumbs turnover (bad pass) (LJ Cryer steals) | |||
1:44 | Chris Nix blocks LJ Cryer's two point layup | |||
1:42 | Chris Nix defensive rebound | |||
1:40 | Jump ball. Chris Nix vs. Ramon Walker Jr. (Bobcats gains possession) | |||
1:15 | Chris Nix turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Vier Francis steals) | |||
1:08 | Jamal Shead misses two point layup | |||
1:04 | Bobcats defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul (Brandon Love draws the foul) | |||
0:50 | +1 | Brandon Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-29 | |
0:50 | +1 | Brandon Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-29 | |
0:35 | Brandon Love personal foul (LJ Cryer draws the foul) | |||
0:35 | LJ Cryer misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:35 | Coleton Benson defensive rebound | |||
0:08 | Dontae Horne misses three point jump shot | |||
0:06 | Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Christian Turner defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |