Caleb Mills scored a game-high 18 points as the Houston Cougars take a 13-point victory over the Tulane Green Waves.
Mills shines as Cougars pick up victory over Tulane
Feb 7, 2020, 6:00 am
Kelvin Sampson. Getty Images
After a disappointing defeat to the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, the No. 25 Houston Cougars returned to their winning ways in a 75-62 victory over the Tulane Green Waves, Thursday night, inside the Fertitta Center in Houston. With the win, the Cougars have now won 11 of their last 13 games while improving to 8-2 in conference play.
It was another remarkable performance for freshman guard Caleb Mills, who registered a game-high 18 points while shooting 70% from the field, 57% from behind the arc. While making his return to the starting lineup in nearly a month, sophomore guard Quentin Grimes scored 15 points (6-11 FG, 4-5 FT) and dishing out five assists in the win.
Following a made 3-point field goal by Mills that was assisted by Nate Hinton, the Cougars took their first led of the game with 13 minutes left in the first period. Following the basket, Houston embarked on a 24-4 run to take a 39-21 lead into the halftime break, as the Green Waves missed nine consecutive shot attempts in the first half.
Although Tulane went on a second-half surge where they outscored Houston 41-36, their inability to take care of the basketball played an enormous in the result of the game, as the Cougars converted 19 points off 12 turnovers. While shooting 54% from the floor and connecting on 10 3-point field goals, the Cougars had one of their best offensive performances of the season, as Houston also held a 38-18 advantage in points in the paint.
Hinton came three assists shy of a triple-double, as the sophomore guard tallied in 12 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the win. In the loss, sophomore Teshaun Hightower recorded 17 points, five rebounds and four steals, with K.J. Lawson adding in 13 points for the Green Wave.
Following the win, the Cougars will continue their two-game homestand on Sunday when they take on the 17-5, 5-4 Wichita State Shockers. Tip-off is slated for 2 P.M. CT.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
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.