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by: Kris Gardner, United States Basketball Writers Association member. Credentialed media member since 1997. USBWA approved online journalist. Voter of Katrina McClain, Naismith, USBWA, and Wooden awards.

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Kyler Edwards' 23 points leads 4 Coogs in double-digit points in Houston's 74-55 win over South Florida

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POSTED: January 18, 2022 -- 11:55 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- (Fertitta Center)

Tuesday night, the Houston Cougars men's basketball improved to 16-2 this season and 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference with 74-55 victory over the South Florida Bulls. Houston has won both conference matchups against the Bulls this season. Houston topped South Florida 83-66 in Tampa, FL, on January 5th.

Kyler Edwards scored a game-high 23 points to lead 4 Houston players in double-digit scoring. Senior forward Fabian White scored 16; while graduate senior Josh Carlton added 15 points and graduate senior guard Taze Moore scored 13 points. Moore's 13 points helped him surpass 1,000 points in his collegiate career.

Houston received a jolt of great news when sophomore guard Jamal Shead surprised nearly everyone -- including Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson -- when Shead checked into the game in the first half. Shead suffered a Grade 2 sprained ankle Saturday evening in Houston's 66-64 road win over Tulsa.

After the Tulsa game, Coach Sampson described Shead's ankle injury as bad. In his media availability session on Monday, January 17, Coach Sampson mentioned Shead would not play this week and would be re-evaluated next week.

First things first, Coach Sampson was surprised to see Shead running up and down the court Tuesday afternoon at Houston's shootaround. Coach Sampson didn't expect Shead to play Tuesday night; but, Shead believed his ankle was healthy enough to play.

"Before shootaround today, I saw Jamal running and said "What?!"

"We expected him to be out two weeks; but, we knew we would not have him this week."

"There's not a lot else to say," Coach Sampson continued. I was shocked when I saw him running and asked him, "What is your plan, young man?"

He said, 'Coach, I think I can play.' And, I said, "Play what? The game tonight?" I told him we would see about that."

"He had a grade two sprain. Is his name Jamal or Lazarus?

"Lazarus Shead is what I'm going to start calling him."

South Florida scored the first 4 points of the game; but, Kyler Edward made a three-point shot for Houston's first points of the game. Houston scored an additional 7 straight points as Edwards sank a second three-point shot which sandwiched baskets by Fabian White and Josh Carlton.

Edwards knocked down his third three-pointer to extend Houston's lead to 13-6 with 14:31 remaining in the first half. Edwards made 4 free throws to stretch Houston's lead to 17-6 before USF's Caleb Murphy hit a pull up jumper to end the Bulls' scoring drought.

Houston outscored South Florida 19-5 over the next nine minutes to lead 36-13 with 2:02 left in the opening half.

The Coogs led 38-18 at the half. Edwards (17) and White (12) outscored USF 29-18 in the half.

Edwards made 4 of 7 threes and 5 of 7 foul shots. Fabian White added shot 4 for 8 field goals and 2 for 2 from the line.

South Florida made 8 of 29 field goal attempts in the first half including just 1 for 10 three-point shots.


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South Florida shot much, much better the first 12 minutes of the second half. The Bulls made 9 of 16 field goals including 5 for 7 from three-point range. In addition to the hot-shooting, South Florida had a 14-9 rebounding edge with 7:59 remaining in the ball game.

Despite those numbers, Houston still maintained a 17 point lead (59-42).

South Florida made 3 of their final 12 field goal attempts the rest of the ball game.

Houston lost the rebounding battle Tuesday night 39-36. South Florida outrebounded Houston 22-18 in the second half.

Houston outscored South Florida 17-4 in points off turnovers and 30-10 in points in the paint.

Tonight's win is Houston 35th consecutive win at home which ties for the third longest home winning streak in Division I men's basketball.

Houston's next game is Saturday, January 22, vs the East Carolina Pirates inside Fertitta Center. Tip is set for 5 p.m. Central Time on ESPN2.

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

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