Coogs improve to 26-1 overall and 13-1 in AAC with 71-59 win over USF

POSTED: February 23, 2019 -- 11:33 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The top 10-ranked Houston Cougars scored the first 11 points of the game and the first 7 points of the second half to lead to a 71-59 win over the USF Bulls Saturday.

DeJon Jarreau led the Coogs with 17 points and 4 assists in 21 plus minutes.

Houston never trailed in the ball game; however, after leading USF 11-0, the Bulls pulled within one point (24-23) before Houston finished the first half with a 10-3 run to lead 34-26 at halftime.

The Coogs opened the second half with 7 straight points to lead by 15 which forced the Bulls to call a quick timeout. Houston led by as much as 19 (66-47) in the second half. USF did not get closer than 12 points in the half.

Houston's defense limited the Bulls to 31.3% field goal shooting in the ball game. The Bulls' best offense was getting fouled by Houston and going to the foul line. USF made 21 of 32 free throws in the game.

USF out-rebounded Houston 37-34, including 20-16 in the second half, and outscored Houston 13-4 in second-chance points.

"We out-rebounded them by three which is no small feat," said USF Head Coach Brian Gregory after the game. "We didn't defend as well as I would like; but, they're (Houston) much improved offensively."

Houston defeated USF with balanced scoring. Ten Coogs scored at least 2 points. Corey Davis, Jr. was second on the team with 15 points. Nate Hinton and Fabian White, Jr. each scored 9 points.

The Coogs won despite Davis (4 for 13) and Armoni Brooks (2 for 9) making just 6 of 22 field goal attempts.

"If you look at it, we did a great job on Brooks," Coach Gregory commented. "He goes 2 for 9. Corey Davis goes 4 for 13. But, every time we made a mistake on Davis, he hit a three. And, that's just the kind of team they are. They're a high-level team."

Coach Gregory credited Houston's defense saying, "That's as good a defensive team as there is in the country. Not only are they solid defensively; but, they've got multiple bodies that can be thrown out at you.

"We had some clean looks; and, when you play them, every open shot feels like you've got to make every one. You need an 'A' shooting night against them; and, obviously, we didn't get that. And, a lot of that has to do with their defense. They've got veteran perimeter players that really know their system and defend very, very well. They've got bigs with length to close up any opportunities that you have driving to the basket."

"There's not a lot of weaknesses they have defensively," Gregory continued. "And, they're getting really good play off their bench which is kind of the reason that they've elevated their game so much as a team. The guys coming off their bench are such different players than the guys that their replacing that it's almost a whole different system."

Houston's bench outscored USF's bench 33-23. During a seven minute stretch in the second half, Houston's bench scored 18 consecutive points. Jarreau scored 10 of the 18 points.

"I thought the key tonight was our halfcourt man-to-man defense," said Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "Our point guard play was outstanding for 40 minutes. Galen (Galen Robinson, Jr.) is really good at what Galen does. DeJon is really good at what DeJon does. They allow us, for 40 minutes, to keep pressuring the point of attack."

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Wednesday, February 27, at the ECU Pirates, at 6 p.m., on ESPN3.

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