The Houston Cougars win their fifth straight game in blowout victory over the South Florida Bulls.
Cougars keep rolling in blowout win over South Florida
Jan 27, 2020, 6:00 am
The Houston Cougars (16-4, 6-1) took care of business Sunday afternoon in a 68-49 victory over the South Florida Bulls inside the Toyota Center in Houston. While improving their winning streak to four, Houston has now won 10 of their last 11 games.
It was a dominating performance for the Cougars as Houston outplayed the Bulls in nearly every aspect of the game. While scoring a total of 34 points in the paint, the Cougars forced the Bulls to commit 15 turnovers in which Houston converted into 18 points.
"My staff does a great job in breaking film down, head coach Kelvin Sampson said after the win. "Our kids knew the actions, and of course, it comes down to executing principles. Basketball is a game of actions, and to be a good defensive team, we have to be able to adjust."
After coming just two assists shy from recording a triple-double last game, junior guard DeJon Jarreau led Houston in scoring with 12 points and six dimes while senior big man Fabian White Jr. added in 11 points and two blocks.
After opening the game on an 8-2 run, Houston en barked on a 17-5 run during the first half to take a 31-23 lead into the half. After extending their lead to 44-28 early in the second half, the Bulls did not get closer than 12 the remainder of the game.
Following the #Cougars win over the USF #Bulls, head coach Kelvin Sampson spoke on the passing of Kobe Bryant: "The… https://t.co/v73ebt42L2— Coty Davis (@Coty Davis) 1580088801.0
"I'm extremely proud of our effort today," Kelvin Sampson said. "Sometimes when you don't shoot the ball well, it looks like you aren't playing good. It could not be further from the truth. We played good today, and we didn't make a lot of shots, but we did a lot of good things."
On a day where Houston failed to shoot over 40% from behind the arc (23.8%), it was the Cougars hustle plays that gave way to their 19 point victory. With 14 offensive boards, Houston recorded 17 second-chance points.
In the loss, neither of USF's players scored in double-figures, with Michael Durr and Antun Maricevic each led the team with eight points apiece.
Following the win, the Cougars will travel to Greenville, N.C. on Wednesday to take on the 9-11, 3-4 East Carolina Pirates. Tip-off is slated for 6 P.M. CT.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.