Coogs defeat Angelo State, 106-42, in Exhibition Game

UPDATED: November 10, 2019 -- 9:23 a.m. CT

POSTED: November 9, 2019 -- 10:17 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars defeated the Angelo State Rams 106-42 Saturday night in an exhibition game. Nate Hinton led Houston with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Freshman guard Marcus Sasser scored 17 points; dished out 5 assists; and did not commit a turnover in his 26 plus minutes of action.

Four other players scored in double digits including guard Quentin Grimes who scored 16 points on efficient 6 for 8 field goal shooting. Redshirt junior forward Justin Gorham and redshirt freshman guard Caleb Mills each scored 14 points while senior center, Chris Harris Jr scored 10 points.

During Houston's postgame press conference, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was quick to point out to media and fans to not read too much into the final score of the game.

"I don't get carried away with individual performances or scores because they really mean nothing," Sampson said. "If we had played poorly tonight, or if guys had missed shots that weren't very good, people would overreact to that and draw conclusions. They would just assume that our guys are no good and that we would be no good and whatnot. Just like tonight, people are probably going to walk around thinking that we're way better than we actually are. I draw nothing from this game. Angelo State Coach [Cinco] Boone didn't even have two of his best players tonight; so, I keep everything in perspective."

Houston led 61-25 at halftime. In the opening half, Houston made 7 of 15 three-point field goal attempts. Sasser made 4 of the 7 three-point baskets.

Despite the huge halftime lead, the Coogs had a slim 20-15 rebounding edge.

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Houston outrebounded Angelo State 29-8 in the second half.

"The thing I was most pleased about tonight was our defense in the first ten minutes of the second half," Coach Sampson commented. "The way we dominated the boards in the second half and our relentlessness in going after them."

Houston's length on the perimeter could pose problems for opponents this season. With 6'5" Nate Hinton at the top of defensive traps combined with 6'5" Quentin Grimes and 6'5" Dejon Jarreau, Houston can disrupt passing lanes and create turnovers.

The Coogs displayed signs of the pressure defense Saturday night against the Rams.

"We did it in the scrimmage, but we're still learning how to do it. Anything you see us doing during the game is obviously something we work on. Quentin [Grimes] is 6'5”, Nate [Hinton] is 6'5”, Dejon [Jarreau] is 6'5”, Cedrick [Alley Jr.] is 6'6”, and Caleb [Mills] is 6'3 ½”. We have some lengths in spots where we didn't have length in before. As a coach, you sit down and ask, ‘what do you do with our length?’ It was good tonight for a long time, but I didn't think it was good as good when Nate wasn't in there. Everything we did tonight, we have to keep plugging."

Hinton understands the importance of defense to Coach Sampson; and, he enjoys setting a tone on defense for the team.

"As one of the leaders on the team, I have to set the tone for the team for everybody else and make sure that everyone plays defense," Hinton commented after the game. "If one of the leaders don't do it, then everybody else won't follow. I try to set a tone and play defense. Defense gets us going; and, defense is the main focus."

Quentin Grimes believes the team is early in the learning stages of knowing each teammates' favorites spots on the floor; but, he believes the team did well Saturday night.

"I feel like we did pretty well," Grimes acknowledged. "As a whole team we had four main goals. I feel like came out there with a game plan and tried to execute and tried to take over the game with those four points. We still have a lot to learn and clean up; but, right now, we are starting to figure everyone out and everyone's game is going to look really good in the next couple games."

Houston begins the 2019-'20 season Tuesday, November 12, versus Alabama State. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES:

Coach Sampson provided a health update on Dejon Jarreau, J'Wan Roberts, and Fabian White Jr. Jarreau played 11 minutes versus Angelo State while Roberts and White Jr did not play versus the Rams.

"He (Fabian) came down on his heel, not his foot. The boot is strictly precautionary. It needs healing; but, we think he'll be okay to play Tuesday, but we'll see. It was pretty sore for him to play tonight. If it hadn't been as sore this morning, I might've played him. The two guys I was thinking about holding out were Dejon and Fabian. J'Wan Roberts swelling in his hand hasn't gone all the way down; so, there's no point in rushing him in these kinds of games.

"Dejon broke his hand in October; so, we didn't have him in practice from October until this Wednesday. No contact Wednesday, little contact Thursday and full contact on Friday. I told him if he could play today that he should try but I was not going to hurt him. Marcus has been our starting point guard for the last month. He started in the scrimmage and he has been starting every day. The good thing about the fracture that Dejon had was that it didn't require surgery. So, you can tell he is a bit rusty tonight; but, he had a lot of energy and juice. He played 11 minutes which is about the time I would have liked to play him. I'll play him a few more minutes on Tuesday and get him ready for next Friday (home game versus BYU)."

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