Coogs' hot shooting in the second half defeats Wichita State

POSTED: January 12, 2019 -- 11:56 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars men's basketball team resumed its winning ways Saturday night with a 79-70 win over the Wichita State Shockers. Wednesday night, the Coogs lost to Temple on the road 73-69. Saturday night, Houston shot 56.5% (13 for 23) in the second half to earn the victory.

Houston (16-1 overall, 3-1 in the American Athletic Conference) did not play very well in the first half; and, the Coogs trailed the Shockers (7-8, 0-4) 38-33 at halftime.

"I was a bit worried about this game, because I could tell that we looked tired," said Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson after the game. "I was concerned about that. Everybody looks at our schedule, and they see this game and that game, but they don't know what these kids go through. We had an emotional game against Temple the other night in Philadelphia. It’s about a three hour flight from here, and I'm sure these guys got to bed around 3 a.m. They're human beings. Tomorrow's day off is very important to us. They need a break. They need to step back. We have just been grinding and grinding."

Houston's top two 3-point shooters, Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr combined to shoot 1 for 10 from three-point range in the first half. Brooks was 0 for 4.

"You never know when Armoni is going go 4-of-5. In the first half, he was in the witness protection program," joked Sampson. "He was 1-of-6 in the first half. He might as well had been sitting by me."

In the second half, Brooks made 4 three-point shots out of 7 attempts.

"You have to know your players," Sampson added. "That's why I believe in Armoni; and, that's why I stick with him."

In the second half, for the first time this season, Brooks and Corey Davis Jr got hot at the same time. Davis Jr. made 3 of his five three-point attempts and scored 14 of his team-high 20 points in the second half.

"Those guys are snipers and we need snipers," said Greg Marshall, Wichita State Head Coach.

After allowing a four-point play, Houston trailed Wichita State 56-55 with 10:51 on the game clock. Houston went on an 8-0 run in 2 minutes, 29 seconds: senior post Breaon Brady made two foul shots and Brooks and Davis Jr each made a three-point shot.

Wichita State's Rod Brown split two foul shoots; but, Davis Jr. knocked down another three-point shot to put the Coogs ahead 66-57 with 7:31 remaining in the game

The Shockers managed to get within 5 points three times in the closing minutes. But, Houston responded each time: first, Davis Jr sank a floater in the paint; second, Brison Gresham scored 4 consecutive points; and third, DeJon Jarreau sank two foul shots.

Houston senior guard Galen Robinson Jr. dished out 11 assists to set a new career-high.

"I made a concerted effort to push the pace and find whoever is open," Robinson Jr said. "When people finally make shots, I get assists."

Davis Jr was asked if he were worried how he and his teammates would respond after the tough loss at Temple. He wasn't worried at all.

"We've got a great group of kids," Davis Jr answered. "And, they hate losing like we do. I knew we were going to come ready to play, so I wasn't worried about us. We have a great culture."

The Coogs did have a few lapses on defense -- including fouling a jump shooter five times.

"We fouled a shooter five times today!" Coach Sampson announced. "You shouldn't foul a shooter five times in five years. We did it five times tonight. I didn't think we played efficient tonight. But, that is over, and it's time to move on to the next one."

Despite fouling the jump shooter five times in the game, Houston won the ball game.

"Conference season is a different animal," Sampson acknowledged. "Winning at home is hard; and, winning away is even harder. It's hard to win games. It's hard to make the NCAA Tournament. Nothing else matters. You just have to find a way to win."

NOTE:

Fabian White Jr started for the first time in his UH career Saturday evening.

"I decided to start him, because I thought that would give the first unit a left," said Sampson. "You can play through Fabian, unlike Cedrick Alley Jr., who has strengths in other areas. He's going to be really sore and tired tomorrow, but he'll get treatment and get ready to go to work Monday."

NEXT:

Houston goes to Dallas, to face the SMU Mustangs, Wednesday, January 16, at 8 p.m. on ESPNews.

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