Sasser’s hot start not nearly enough
Guard scores 17, UH teammates just three in a disastrous first half
INDIANAPOLIS — For nearly the entire first half, Marcus Sasser did everything possible to keep the score from getting out of control.
The University of Houston sophomore guard said it seemed like he was playing 1-on-5 with the Baylor Bears.
“We were going shot for shot, and that wasn’t going to win it,” Sasser said after the Cougars’ 78-59 loss in the national semifinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. “We had to get stops. And it was just unfortunate we couldn’t do that. I was just trying to do everything to try to help my team win.”
The defensive stops did not come until the Bears had led by as many as 25 points. The wait for scoring help also came too late.
Sasser had 17 points of his game-high 20 in the first half, contributing all but three of UH’s point total. He hit a 3-pointer to begin the game, another to put the Cougars ahead 8-6 — their final lead of the game — and stayed hot with three more 3-pointers in the first half.
He waited for help. A 3-pointer by Sasser pulled the Cougars within 27-17, but that’s when Baylor showed why it’s been among the top two teams in the country all season.
Jared Butler hit consecutive 3-pointers, Adam Flagler added another, and a Butler layup capped an 11-0 run.
How lopsided was the Cougars’ first-half shooting?
Sasser was 6-of-11, including five 3s, for 17 points. The rest of the team was 1-for-15 for a combined three points. All-America guard Quentin Grimes and DeJon Jarreau, two key cogs in UH’s 28-win season, went a combined 1of-12.
“The big thing was we really guarded in the first half, really defended well, rebounded well,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “In the second half you knew Houston was going to score. But we were able to hold them far enough at bay to not let them threaten.”
Along with a lack of scoring, UH coach Kelvin Sampson said he knew the Cougars were in trouble when he looked at the early rebounding numbers.
“Our guard rebounds,” he said. “When you look up at halftime, we’ve got two high-level rebounding guards in Grimes and Jarreau. At halftime they had the same amount as I did — zero. That’s a problem. When our guards aren’t rebounding, we’re going to struggle.”
Sasser only took three shots in the second half as the Cougars looked to get others involved. Grimes, who is expected to enter the NBA draft, scored 13 points in the second half. Forward Reggie Chaney had six points.
The Cougars shot 48.3 percent in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
“They’re just a good overall team,” Sasser said. “They made a lot of shots, a lot of tough shots. Just made shots.”
The final performance by Sasser continued a strong finish to the season. After struggling at the end of the regular season, Sasser averaged 14.3 points over the final seven games in the American Athletic Conference and NCAA tournaments.
Sasser said it was an emotional end to the season for the Cougars’ three seniors, Jarreau, Gorham and Brison Gresham.
“We were just supporting each other like we’ve been doing all season,” said Sasser, who was choking back tears after the game. “Telling them how much we appreciate the seniors for all they’ve done for us this year.”