Kyler Edwards' career-high 29 points helps Houston Cougars hold off Tulsa 66-64

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POSTED: January 15, 2022 -- 10:35 p.m. CT

TULSA, OK -- (Donald W. Reynolds Center)

Saturday night, the Houston Cougars men's basketball team maintained 2 themes: finding ways to win and another guard getting injured. Houston defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 66-64 Saturday to improve to 15-2 overall and 4-0 in the American Athletic Conference.

Houston was scoreless the final 2 plus minutes of the game; and, Tulsa closed the game with a 9-0 run. However, Tulsa's Sam Griffin -- after draining 3 consecutive three-point shots -- missed a game-winning three-point shot off the side of the backboard to preserve Houston's victory.

Jamal Shead, Houston's only true point guard, rolled his right ankle 4 minutes into the game. Shead could not put any weight on the ankle and was helped off the court to the training camp.

Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was one of 2 people to help Shead off the court. After the game, Coach Sampson told the media he asked Jamal how bad is the ankle.

" 'It's bad.' ", Shead told Coach Sampson. Coach Sampson knew Shead would not play the rest of the game.

"We're running out of bodies," Coach Sampson said after the game.

With Shead out of the game, Houston went on a 10-0 run to boost a 7-5 lead to 17-5 with 11 plus minutes remaining.

Kyler Edwards took over the lead guard duties with Shead out of the game. Edwards scored 18 of his 29 points in the first half. Edwards knocked down a jumper with 14 seconds left in the half; then, teammate Taze Moore stole a Tulsa pass and converted a double-pump three-point shot to beat the halftime buzzer and put Houston ahead 38-21 at the half.

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After an ice cold shooting performance in the first half, Tulsa got hot and stayed hot in the second half. Tulsa made 16 of 28 field goal attempts including 8 for 13 three-point attempts in the second half.

Early in the second half, Tulsa went on an 8-0 run to slice Houston's lead to 41-33. Tulsa made 1 three-point shot the entire first half (out of 11 attempts); however, TU made 2 of 3 three-pointers in the first minutes of the second half.

Tulsa's Jeriah Horne led the comeback with lights out shooting in the second half. Horne scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and made all 5 of his three-point baskets in the second 20 minutes.

Houston's lead dwindled to two (54-52) when Kyler Edwards nailed a tough three-point shot to beat the shot clock to increase Houston's lead to 57-52. Houston stretched the lead to 64-52 with 4:11 remaining in the game.

Horne nailed his fifth 3-point shot before Edwards made a pull up jumper for a 66-55 Houston lead with 3:17 on the game clock.

Houston did not score the rest of the game while Sam Griffin made 3 tough three-point baskets to cut Houston's lead to 66-64 with 1:06 left in the game.

After Edwards missed a three-point shot, Taze Moore hustled to grab the ball before it landed out of bounds for an offensive rebound. Moore tossed the ball to Edwards at the top of the key to take more time off the clock.

Houston called timeout with 21.8 seconds remaining. After the timeout, Houston freshman Ramon Walker missed a contested jumper. The ball caromed out of bounds to Tulsa with 6 seconds left in the game.

Anthony Pritchard caught the inbounds pass and raced up the court. Pritchard layup attempt was high off the glass. The loose ball was deflected out of bounds by Houston with 0.4 seconds remaining.

Sam Griffin caught the inbounds pass and launched a shot which clanged off the backboard.

"I'm proud of our kids," Coach Sampson said after Houston's gritty win. "I'm proud of our program."

With Shead's injury status uncertain, Coach Sampson added, "We gotta figure out how to win with three guards."

Kyler Edwards' 29 points and 7 made three-pointers are both career-highs.

Edwards played all 40 minutes in the game; and, said the Coogs maintained their "Next man up mentality." when Shead injured his ankle.

Tonight's win marks the first time as an American Athletic Conference member and only the sixth time in school history that Houston has started conference play 4-0 in its history.

Houston's next game is Tuesday, January 18, vs the South Florida Bulls inside Fertitta Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time. ESPN+ will broadcast the game.

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