Coogs pummel Penn, 81-42; finish non-conference schedule 13-0

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UPDATED: December 31, 2023 -- 2:57 p.m. CT

POSTED: December 30, 2023 -- 11:33 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- (Fertitta Center)

The Houston Cougars wrapped the non-conference portion of the 2023-24 season with an 81-42 pummeling of the Penn Quakers Saturday evening. Houston improves to 13-0 this season. The Coogs' 13-0 start is just the third time Houston has accomplished that feat joining the 1967-68 and the 2018-19 teams.

Houston's defense swarmed Penn early and often. Penn (8-6) didn't score a single point until 9 minutes into the ball game. Houston led 18-0 before Quaker guard Sam Brown sank a three-point attempt with 10:58 on the clock.

Penn made one 2-point field goal attempt (out of 7 attempts) in the opening half. The Quakers only made 4 of 16 three-point shots in the first half and trailed Houston 39-17 at halftime.

Houston guard LJ Cryer scored 12 points in the first half to the lead the Coogs.

Penn outscored Houston 8-2 the first 3 minutes of the second half; however, JoJo Tugler, Houston freshman big man scored a layup to begin a 14-4 run to increase Houston's lead to 56-27 with 11:56 to go in the ball game.

Tugler started the game in place of veteran forward J'Wan Roberts. Roberts didn't play in the game due to a swollen knee.

"I just thought he (J'Wan) needed the rest," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach said regarding J'Wan Roberts. "I didn't even ask him. I just thought the more time that we can give him with his injury the better."

The Coogs led Penn by as much as 44 points in the second half.

LJ Cryer led five Coogs in double-digit points with 16; Jamal Shead scored 14 points and added 4 rebounds and 4 assists; Tugler filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 2 steals, and 1 assist; and Emanuel Sharp contributed 12 points and rebounds.

Damian Dunn was the fifth Coog in double-figures with 11 points. Dunn also added 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

"When he was at Temple, his job was to score," Coach Sampson said of Dunn. "Obviously, it was not to rebound; all you have to do is check his rebounding stats there."

"There's been a steady improvement," Dunn said of his transition from Temple to Houston. "I thought I was pretty solid for the most part."

"It's not easy to pick our system up, especially when you've spent four years in somebody else's," Coach Sampson added about Dunn's 4 seasons at Temple before transferring to Houston this season.

Penn entered the game averaging 10 made three-pointers per game. Penn made 7 of 26 threes versus Houston. Houston outscored Penn 25-4 in points off turnovers; 44-14 in the paint; and 20-10 in second chance points.

"Our quickness and attention to detail, I thought, was good tonight," Coach Sampson said of his team's performance.

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