No. 6 Cougars roll past SMU 70-48 for eighth straight win.
Cougars channel ‘holy trinity’ focus in eighth consecutive win
It’s among the first things Houston players hear when they walk through the door.
Coach Kelvin Sampson calls it the “holy trinity,” and regardless of the day or opponent, it’s best to learn it, practice it, remember it.
Defend. Rebound. Take care of the basketball.
“When I first got here, that’s the first thing he instilled in us,” senior guard DeJon Jarreau said. “That’s our culture. That’s how we win.”
And win … and win … and win … Marcus Sasser had a game-high 19 points, Justin Gorham posted another double-digit rebound total, and the sixth-ranked Cougars pulled away early in the second half to beat SMU 70-48 on Sunday for their eighth straight win.
UH continued to steam through the schedule with its 13th double-digit win in 15 victories this season. At this rate, the American Athletic Conference race could be decided by mid-February, with the Cougars now 10-1 in league play (15-1 overall) and ahead by three games in the standings.
Among the socially distanced crowd of 1,859 at Fertitta Center — where the Cougars won their 20th straight game — was a special guest. The Ferris Mowers NABC National Championship Trophy made its first stop on a nationwide tour, offering a glimpse of the prize that could await the Cougars, who are being mentioned as a Final Four contender and potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s just motivation,” Sasser said. “We want to get there one day. We want to win a national championship one day.”
On Sunday, the Cougars won with defense. SMU, among the highest-scoring teams in the nation, was held nearly 30 points below its season average and shot 32 percent. The Mustangs were 2-of-14 from 3-point range, with both shots made by Kendric Davis in the first half.
The Cougars won with rebounds, holding a 28-11 advantage in the second half and 45-33 for the game. Gorham finished with 17 boards, becoming the first UH player with eight straight double-digit rebounding games since Tim Moore had eight during the 1995-96 season.
“Rebounding is heart, and nobody’s heart is bigger than Justin’s,” Sampson said.
The Cougars won by taking care of the ball, forcing the Mustangs into 13 turnovers, which UH converted into 13 points. The Cougars committed 10 turnovers.
“Our constant is our defense, our rebounding and the way we take care of the ball,” Sampson said. “As long as we do those three things, the ‘holy trinity,’ we are always in the game.”
One streak did come to an end Sunday. Feron Hunt’s layup just over two minutes into the game gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead — the first time UH had trailed in more than 189 minutes, a span stretching almost five games.
After scoring only three points in a 23-point win at Tulane, Sasser, UH’s sophomore guard, started 0-for-5 before finishing with a game-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers. His 3-pointer with 6:18 left in the first half broke a 15-all tie as the Cougars took the lead for good.
“My teammates kept telling me every time I went to the bench, ‘Keep shooting the ball,’ ” Sasser said. “Coach Sampson tells me all the time he doesn’t care how many I miss; just keep shooting. Even when I am off to a bad start like that, I keep shooting and gaining confidence because my teammates put that confidence in me.”
UH opened the second half on a 14-3 run to take a 44-29 lead. Sasser made one of three free throws and added a 3-pointer, and Tramon Mark’s jumper gave the Cougars a 19-point lead at 50-31.
Reggie Chaney added 10 points, and DeJon Jarreau and Gorham each added nine for UH.
Quentin Grimes had six points in his return after missing one game with a sprained ankle. Grimes, the AAC’s leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, delivered a big 3 as the Cougars opened with nine straight points to begin the second half.
UH shot only 34 percent for the game, a stat Sampson was not overly concerned about and chalked up to “not making open shots.”
What Sampson was pleased with was the “holy trinity.” The Cougars used a pick-and-roll defense to keep in check SMU guard Davis, who finished with 11 points. Emmanuel Bandoumel was 0-for-8 and had one point. Yor Anei and Hunt each had 10 points for the Mustangs (9-4, 5-4 AAC).
“Our three core tenets — rebounding, defense and taking care of the ball — I thought we were outstanding in all three areas,” Sampson said.