5th-ranked Houston tops North Carolina A&T, 74-46

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POSTED: December 14, 2022 -- 8:54 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- (Fertitta Center)

The 5th-ranked Houston Cougars returned to the win column Tuesday night with a 74-46 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Houston improves to 10-1 this season while the Aggies move to 4-5.

After Saturday's 71-65 home loss to Alabama, Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson mentioned he wanted to get more minutes to his bench players. Tuesday night, Coach Sampson accomplished that objective. Ten different Coogs got minutes in the first half.

Houston big man Ja'Vier Francis checked into the game with 16:08 remaining in the first half. Next, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp checked into the game after the first media timeout at the 15:28 mark of the first half.

"I made a conscious effort," Coach Sampson said after the game. "And, our first big off the bench was Ja'Vier. And, our first guard was Emanuel."

Francis took advantage of his earlier than usual minutes with 10 points and 5 rebounds in 8 minutes. Francis scored the 10 points on 5 dunks. Francis finished the first half with 10 points and 9 rebounds in 14 minutes, 37 seconds.

"It tells me a lot that I know he [Coach Sampson] has confidence in me," Francis said regarding being Houston's first big off the bench to get minutes. "He wants to see me grow; and, that's why he leaves me out there."

Sharp contributed 5 points (2 for 3 field goal shooting); floor spacing; and solid defense in the first half.

Houston overcame a turnover-filled start 4 turnovers in 3 minutes to lead the Aggies 36-21 at halftime. A&T guard Kam Woods scored 17 of the Aggies' 21 first half points. Woods made 7 of the Aggies' 8 first half baskets. He shot 7 for 11 including 3 for 5 threes in the first half.

Francis and Sharp started the second half for Houston. Houston scored the first 12 points of the second half to lead 48-21. Francis (3 points) and Sharp (2) points combined for 5 of the 12 points.

"It was also rewarding them, too. They went in and were more aggressive," Coach Sampson answered regarding why Francis and Sharp started the second half.

Houston led by as much as 34 points (61-27) in the second half.

Francis finished the game with a career-high 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. He also added 3 blocked shots.

"I know my job out there is to get rebounds, defend and get pick-and-rolls," Francis added. "Every time I go on the floor, my main goal is just to rebound and stop the ball; and, I just let everything else just come."

Sharp finished the game with 10 points (3 for 5 field goals, 3 for 3 free throws) in a season-high 25 minutes, 39 seconds.

Houston senior guard Marcus Sasser tied Francis for team-high in points with 17. Sasser made 6 of 10 shots from the floor and 3 of 4 from the foul line. He also added 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

"My focus for tonight's game was really just playing hard," Sasser in postgame. "Trying to rebound and impact the game in different ways. I haven't been shooting well so that was my main focus coming in the game. I just want to play hard and good things will happen."

Houston won the rebounding battle 46-26 and outscored the Aggies 42-14 in the paint and 22-6 in second chance points. Francis and Sharp 27 combined points helped the Coogs win the bench battle 40 to 5.

NEXT: The Coogs' next game is Saturday, December 17, on the road, against the 2nd-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. Tip is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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