Marcus Sasser scores career-high 28 points in Houston's 71-50 win over Tulane

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UPDATED: January 9, 2021 -- 9:20 p.m. CT

POSTED: January 9, 2021 -- 9:15 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars improved to 10-1 this season and 5-1 in the American Athletic Conference with a 71-50 victory over the Tulane Green Wave Saturday afternoon. Houston guard Marcus Sasser scored a career-high 28 points to lead Houston. Quentin Grimes added 14 points in the win.

Sasser sank a Fertitta Center record 8 three-point shots Saturday. He was Cougar red-hot in the opening half with 20 points on 7 for 9 field goal shooting and 6 for 7 from long range.

Sasser became only the fifth player in school history to make 8+ three-pointers in a game, joining Robert McKiver, Corey Davis Jr., Jherrod Stiggers and Andre Owens.

"Every time I shot it, it was going in", Sasser said during his postgame media session.

Sasser got the Coogs on the scoreboard with a 3 point basket. Tulane (6-3 overall, 1-3 in the AAC) tied the game at 3 and at 5 before taking a 9-8 lead with 14:06 remaining in the first half.

Houston turned over the ball 6 times in the first six minutes and 7 times in the first 10:02 of the ball game. Justin Gorham knocked down a jumper for a 10-9 Houston lead. Houston freshman guard Tramon Mark followed with a pull up jumper then Sasser nailed another three-point shot to increase Houston's lead to 15-9.

Tulane scored 5 straight to cut Houston's lead to 15-14; but, Sasser sank a three-point shot to push Houston's lead to 18-14. Sasser scored 5 points during a 16-7 spurt which increased Houston's lead to 34-21 with 2:27 on the game clock.

The Coogs led the Green Wave 37-25 at the half.

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Sasser's hot shooting cooled slightly to warm in the second half; but, Grimes heated up with back-to-back three-point baskets to boost Houston's lead to 43-27.

Tulane scored 4 in a row; but, Grimes made his third three-pointer of the half to start a 7-0 run and increase Houston's lead to 50-31 11:34 remaining in the contest.

Houston led by as much as 24 points in the second half.

The Coogs made a season-high 15 three-pointers in the game. Houston shot 15 for 36 on threes (41.7 3pt%) and 12 for 25 on two point field goals (48.0 fg%). Houston outrebounded Tulane 48-26 (16-7 offensive boards).

Houston outscored Tulane 16-7 in second chance points.

"You achieve what you emphasize," Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said of Houston's dominance on the boards.

Cameron Tyson, transfer guard from Idaho, scored 9 points (3 for 6 threes), in 15 minutes, off the bench.

Coach Sampson said Cam earned more minutes and added "There's not a player I'm happier for than Cam."

Eleven Houston players played. All 11 scored and all 11 grabbed at least 1 rebound in Saturday's win.

UP NEXT:

Houston's next game is Thursday, January 14, at 6 p.m., at USF. ESPN2 will broadcast the game.

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