Cougars newcomers shine in exhibition against Rams
For all the 3-pointers, dunks and newcomers making debuts in the University of Houston’s 66point exhibition victory Saturday night, coach Kelvin Sampson came away impressed with two areas of the game that have come to define the program.
Defense and rebounding.
The Cougars began the second half with a defensefueled 17-0 run on the way to a 106-42 victory over Division II Angelo State at Fertitta Center.
“Those things are hallmarks of our program,” Sampson said, “but because I say they are doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. We have to create habits. If something happens once, it could be an accident. If it happens twice, it could be a coincidence. But if it happens three or more times, it becomes a habit.”
In the first look Saturday, true freshman Marcus Sasser played majority of the game at point guard in place of injured starter De’Jon Jarreau and finished with 17 points, including 5of-8 shooting from 3-point range.
Quentin Grimes, a heralded transfer from Kansas, had 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Forward Justin Gorham, a transfer from Towson who sat out last season, had 14 points and seven rebounds. Caleb Mills, a redshirt who enrolled at midseason a year ago, had 14 points.
Then there was key returner Nate Hinton, a sophomore guard who had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds,
Six players scored in double figures. All but one of the 10 Cougars to play scored.
“If we had played poorly and guys had missed shots and not been very good, people would overreact to that and draw conclusions, ‘That guy can’t shoot, that guy is not good, blah-blahblah, we’re going to be no good.’ I know how that works. Just like tonight. Everybody is going to run around here thinking we’re way better than we actually are. I draw nothing from this game. I keep everything in perspective.”
Jarreau, who is expected to begin the season as the starting point guard, was limited to 11 minutes as he works back from a broken hand suffered Oct. 8 in practice. Sampson said he returned to practice in the last few days. Forward Fabian White Jr., another key frontcourt contributor, was held out as a precaution with a bruised right heel but is expected to be available when the Cougars open the season Tuesday against Alabama State.
Ahead 61-25 at halftime, the Cougars scored 17 straight points in five minutes to begin the second half. By the 10-minute mark, UH had stretched the lead to 89-34.