Houston Cougars lose 75-61 at Memphis to finish the regular season

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POSTED: March 6, 2022 -- 7:54 p.m. CT

Memphis, TN -- (FedEx Forum)

The Houston Cougars closed the regular season with a 75-61 road loss at the Memphis Tigers Sunday afternoon. Memphis (19-9 overall, 13-5 in the American Athletic Conference) dominated the game and led Houston for 39 minutes, 44 seconds. Houston never led in the ball game.

Sunday's loss does not erase Houston's winning the 2022 American Athletic Conference regular season championship; however, Memphis did sweep the two regular season meetings this season. Houston had not been swept by an AAC opponent since the 2016-2017 season.

Memphis forced a frantic pace in the first half; and, Houston did not handle the up tempo pace well. Houston (26-5, 15-3) had fourteen turnovers in the first half which the Tigers converted into 20 points. Houston had more turnovers (14) than made field goals (9) in the opening 20 minutes.

"Our guards didn't do a very good job handling their pressure," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said after the game.

Memphis led by as much as 23 (46-23) in the first half. The Coogs trailed 49-29 at halftime.

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Houston cut down the turnovers early in the second half and climbed within 13 (59-46) with 13:23 remaining in the second half.

"When we got down 13, we were not turning it over," Coach Sampson commented.

However, Houston point guard Jamal Shead committed a turnover. Memphis went on a 9-0 run to lead by 22 (68-46) with 9:10 left in the game.

Houston never recovered. The Coogs made their last 3 field goal attempts to lose by 14.

Houston finished the game with 20 turnovers. The Tigers scored 28 points off the turnovers. Memphis outrebounded Houston 32-25 and outscored Houston 12-6 in second chance points. Memphis' dominance extended to a 29-2 edge in bench points and 34-26 points in the paint advantage.

Kyler Edwards scored 19 points to lead Houston. Edwards made 6 of 15 field goal attempts (2 for 9 three-point attempts) and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Taze Moore scored 16 points on 5 for 9 field goal shooting including 4 for 6 three-point shots.

Fabian White added 11 points before fouling out with 3:15 left in the game.

Today's game was Houston's fourth game in 8 days; but, Coach Sampson did not use tired legs as an excuse for the loss.

"No excuses. We just didn't play good and Memphis had a lot to do with it," Coach Sampson concluded.

Houston's next game is Friday, March 11, in a quarterfinal matchup in the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championship. Houston will face the winner of the 8-seed Cincinnati / 9-seed East Carolina matchup, at noon CT, on ESPN2.

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