Cougars Outgun Troy -- with VIDEO

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- The Houston Cougars put on a shooting clinic from three-point range and defeated the Troy Trojans 93 to 85 in front of 2,612 fans.

The Coogs shot a white-hot 59.3% (16 for 27) from the "Land of Three" (fifth best in school-history) and answered every challenge the Trojans made in the second half.

The Coogs started slowly as the Trojans led 15 to 10. Houston shot 4 for 16 from the field during the first eight minutes and 33 seconds.  

With 12:04 left in the first half, UH head coach Tom Penders subbed for star Aubrey Coleman; and, the Cougars did not miss a beat and scored eight straight points (five points from Adam Brown and three from Zamal Nixon) to turn a three point deficit into a five point lead in just two minutes. The eight straight points capped off a 10-0 Cougars' run.

Despite shooting 41.7% (15 for 36 from the field) overall while the Trojans shot 51.5% (17 for 33), the Coogs led the Trojans 43 to 37 at the half.

(Listen to the post-game press conference featuring Kelvin, Aubrey, and Kahmell.)

Each time the Cougars (5-2) would stretch the lead in the second half, the Trojans would score in the paint either with a driving layup or on a put back.

Troy (5-5) outscored the Cougars 58 to 24 in the paint; but, the Cougars offset that by making 16 threes to just five by the Trojans.

Cougars' senior Kelvin Lewis cited "a little bit of miscommunication" on defense for all of the easy baskets by the Trojans.

"I think that when we put pressure on the ball there are going to be times that people get around it," Lewis added. "We just have to do a little better job rotating and talking a little bit more on 'd'. I think we started doing that towards the end; and, that's why we got the win."

Lewis finished the game with 24 points (8 for 12 from the field, including 7 for 9 on threes); six rebounds; and three assists.

Balanced scoring and 25 points off the bench helped the Cougars pick up the victory.

Junior college transfer Kahmell Broughton scored 10 points and pulled down four boards off the Cougars' bench in 16 minutes of action. Nick Haywood added six points and two assists in 14 minutes off the bench.

"To me, the key to the whole ball game was two players: Nick Haywood and Kahmell Broughton," said Coach Penders after the game. "Both were huge contributors. They turned the game around when we were struggling."

The game was played at a breakneck speed; but, that up tempo style is what the Cougars prefer.

"That's what we want to do," Aubrey Coleman said. "That's our main focus every game. Runnin' and gunnin'."

Troy pulled within four points three times in the final 95 seconds of the game; but, Coleman answered with a three-point with 1:02 on the clock; two free throws  with 49 seconds remaining; and splitting four free throws in the final 37 seconds to help preserve the victory.

Houston returns to Hofheinz Pavilion this Saturday afternoon versus Mississippi State. Tip is set for 1 p.m.