Coogs beat UTEP by 18

POSTED: February 13, 2013 -- 10:18 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- The Houston Cougars bounced back from blowing a 19 point lead and losing Saturday with a solid, solid performance Wednesday night to earn a 79-61 victory over the UTEP Miners.

Houston's TaShawn Thomas scored 24 points; grabbed 11 boards; and dished seven assists in a tremendous all-around individual performance. Thomas led four Coogs in double-digits as Danuel House scored 19; followed by Jherrod Stiggers' 13 points off the bench and Joseph Young's 12 points.

The Coogs (15-8 overall, 4-6 in Conference) dished 19 assists on 27 made field goals.

Houston led 43-29 at halftime as Jherrod Stiggers swished a three-point bucket (from an assist by Thomas) at the buzzer.

Tione Womack started at point guard and Womack dished five assists with just one turnover in the ball game. Those numbers came in 15 first half minutes as foul trouble in the second half limited Womack to just five minutes in the second half.

The Miners (13-10, 6-4) cut Houston's lead to 50-43 five minutes into the second half; but, Danuel House sank two free throws and, freshman big man, Valentine Izundu blocked his first of three shots (in a two minute span) to jump start a fast break which resulted in a three-point basket by Jherrod Stiggers.

Izundu's second blocked shot led to a fastbreak layup by Stiggers; and, his third blocked shot ended with Izundu finishing the play with a jumper in the paint. The Coogs led 59-47 after Izundu's basket.

Thomas made two free throws to boost the lead to 61-47; but, the Miners went on a 11-5 run to pull within eight points (66-58) with 6:12 remaining in the game.

Instead of wilting as the Miners' mounted a comeback, the Coogs went on a 8-0 run the next two plus minutes to put the game away.

The Coogs next three games are on the road: Saturday, February 16, at Tulsa; Wednesday, February 20, at Memphis; and Wednesday, February 27, at UTEP.

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