Cougars’ second-half rally foils upset bid

HOUSTON — Jarace Walker had a career-high 25 points and seven rebounds, and No. 3 Houston rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half to defeat Cincinnati 75-69 on Saturday.

Walker, who scored 13 points in the second half, was 10-of-14 from the field. J’Wan Roberts added 14 points and six rebounds, and Jamal Shead scored 13 points for Houston (20-2, 8-1 American Athletic Conference).

Houston has won at least 20 games in eight straight seasons under coach Kelvin Sampson. The Cougars shot 57 percent from the floor but were just 5-of-17 on 3pointers.

Landers Nolley II had 24 points, including 6 3pointers, for the Bearcats. Vicktor Lakhin added 15 points, and David DeJulius had 14 points and nine assists for Cincinnati (14-8, 5-4). The Bearcats shot 44 percent, including 11-of-27 on 3-pointers.

Trailing 60-49 with 11½ minutes remaining, the Cougars used a 20-4 run to take a 5-point lead — capped by a Roberts dunk with 2:49 remaining.

But the Bearcats responded with 5 straight points to tie it at 69 on a 3pointer by DeJulius with 1:19 left.

Houston answered with a step-back jumper from Shead with 47 seconds to give the Cougars a 2-point lead.

After Cincinnati was whistled for a shot clock violation, Shead made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to put Houston up 73-69. On the other end, Lakhin was whistled for goaltending with five seconds left.

Cincinnati used a 16-0 run to jump out to a 19-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Jeremiah Davenport with 13 minutes remaining. It was the largest deficit for Houston this season. The Bearcats took a 43-36 lead into the half on a halfcourt 3 by Mika Adams-Woods at the buzzer.

The Bearcats struggled in the second half, shooting 30 percent from the field and making just 3of-15 3-point attempts.

Houston outrebounded Cincinnati 35-27 and held a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint.

Big picture

Cincinnati: The Bearcats missed a chance at a marquee win. Cincinnati last beat a top 3-ranked team on March 9, 2012 (No. 2 Syracuse, 71-68).

Houston: The Cougars have not lost consecutive home games since January 2017. … Houston has won eight straight over the Bearcats. … Houston’s struggles from the freethrow line continued, finishing 10-of-16.

Up next

Cincinnati: Hosts Tulsa on Wednesday.

Houston: At Wichita State on Thursday.

Karen Warren/Staff photographer Jarace Walker scored a career-high 25 points, including 13 in the second half, in No. 3 Houston’s 75-69 win over Cincinnati.