Cougars get an opportunity to avenge lone AAC defeat

HOUSTON — University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is fond of saying “there are no secrets in conference play,” especially this time of year when teams are preparing for rematches.

“Just look at the previous game and see where you made your mistakes,” Sampson said.

No deep dive into the game film is necessary to figure out why the Cougars, then No. 1 in the polls, lost to Temple, 5655, Jan. 22 at Fertitta Center.

“A big part of that game was one team was 20for-22 from the freethrow line and the other was 11-of-21. But that was the same team that was 13of-15 (in Thursday’s 70-61 win at Wichita State). So, we’re capable of being a good free-throw shooting team.”

UH continues a tough road stretch against Temple at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The third-ranked Cougars (21-2, 9-1 AAC) enter Sunday’s game with a onegame lead over Temple (14-9, 8-2 AAC).

Beating the Cougars in recent years has been a tough task. Beating them twice in the same season has been almost impossible.

Following a loss, UH is 8-1 in rematches in AAC play since the 2017-18 season. The only team to sweep the Cougars in the regular season during that stretch was Memphis last season. UH’s average margin of victory in a rematch is 18 points.

“Everybody in this program doesn’t like losing, so if we drop one, we just come back harder and harder the next game,” guard Tramon Mark said. “That adds fuel to the fire for us. We already lost to them, so we’re already looking to get our revenge.”

In the first meeting against Temple, the Cougars had a chance to win, but Mark’s tip-in on an inbounds lob pass missed at the buzzer. Along with the free throw woes, UH shot 33.9 percent for the game, the second-worst showing of the season. The Cougars kept the game close thanks to a defense that held the Owls to one point over the final seven-plus minutes and 23.8 percent shooting in the second half.

“I think the first time we played Temple we kind of underestimated them a little bit, their ability to dice up our defense the way they did,” Mark said. “I think we’re more locked in on the defensive end more than anything this time going into Philly.”

Sunday’s game is a quick turnaround for the Cougars, who are in midst of a stretch of three of four games on the road. UH returned from Wichita State about 1 a.m. Friday morning, held a team practice that afternoon, and left at noon Saturday for Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, the Owls are rested after an eightgame layoff since beating UCF in overtime on Jan. 28.

UH has needed to rally in the last two games, overcoming a seven-point deficit to beat Cincinnati and down eight points against Wichita State.

All five UH starters are averaging close to double figures, led by guard Marcus Sasser (16.2 points per game). Point guard Jamal Shead has scored in double figures in six straight games, averaging 14.5 during that span. Sampson said one area that needs improvement is production from the bench, which has only 14 points in the last two games.

Chalk it up to life in conference play?

“Nobody knows you like your conference does,” Sampson said. “They know what to take away and how to take it away.”

Bob Levey/Getty Images Houston’s Jarace Walker shoots against Temple on Jan. 22. The Cougars, No. 1 in the AP poll at the time, lost 56-55 at Fertitta Center. It is UH’s only AAC loss.