Coogs Blast Alabama A&M Bulldogs, 101-54

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Posted: November 10, 2018 -- 10:35 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr. combined for 46 points on 17 for 25 field goal shooting in the Houston Cougars' season-opening 101-54 win over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in the Men Against Breast Cancer Cup.

Houston (1-0) set the tone with defense in the first half. The Coogs limited the Bulldogs to 30.4% field goal shooting (7 for 23) including 12.5% (1 for 8) on three-point shots.

"You can tell a lot about a team's preparation by the first twenty minutes," said Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "The second twenty minutes it's kind of a mish-mash with this and that; but, I thought our defense was outstanding the first twenty minutes.

"I don't care who you play. This time of year you're more focused on your team. Not who you're playing. I thought our discipline was good. Our attention to detail."

Houston led 43-18 at halftime.

Houston's defense slipped just a bit in the second half. The Bulldogs made 15 of 31 field goals (48.4%) in the second half; however, Houston's offense shot a blistering 67.%. Houston made 21 of 31 field goal attempts including 7 for 13 three-point shots.

Brooks and Davis Jr combined to shoot 11 for 19 from behind the arc. When Alabama A&M extended its defense beyond the three-point line, Houston got the ball to Breaon Brady in the post. Brady shot a perfect 6 for 6 from the floor and finished the game with 12 points and 5 rebounds in 18 minutes and 45 seconds.

"When they (Alabama A&M) extended the defense," said Coach Sampson. "We started going to Breaon. He played well."

Redshirt freshman Cedrick Alley Jr. scored 11 points (3 for 6 shooting including 2 for 5 threes) and pulled down 5 boards in 22 minutes and 49 seconds.

Eleven Coogs played in the game. Nine scored.

Houston shot 50% from three (15 for 30) in the game and outrebounded the Bulldogs 37-20.

Armoni Brooks believes this year's Coogs could be a better defensive team than last year's stellar defensive squad.

"We still got a really long way to go," Brooks said. "I feel like we could be a better defensive team than we were last year. I think we just got to get back in practice and really focus on what we gotta work on and we've got a long way to go on defense; but, we'll get there."

Alabama A&M forward Andre Kennedy led the Bulldogs with 14 points, while guard Jalen Reeder added 13 points and a team-high four rebounds.

NEXT

Houston's next game is November 14, at 7 p.m., vs the Rice Owls. The match-up is also part of the Men Against Breast Cancer Cup.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's write-ups of Coogs' men's hoops games.