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

Mills shines as Cougars pick up victory over Tulane
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.



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Welcome to Houston, Nick! Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.

The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.

For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.

“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”

As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.

Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.

He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.

Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.

It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.

You can watch the full interview in the video below.

And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.


*ChatGPT assisted.

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