No. 14 Houston bounces back from 2 losses, beats UCF 70-52
Houston guard Jamal Shead (1) fouls Central Florida guard Dre Fuller Jr. (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
HOUSTON (AP) — Taze Moore had 14 points and seven rebounds, Fabian White Jr. added 12 points, and No. 14 Houston snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-52 win over Central Florida on Thursday night.
Jamal Shead chipped in 12 points and eight assists, and Kyler Edwards finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Cougars (21-4, 10-2 American Athletic Conference). Houston shot 44% but struggled from behind the arc, going 7 of 23.
The Cougars outrebounded UCF, 47-38, and held a 36-14 advantage in points in the paint.
Darius Johnson and Dre Fuller Jr. each scored 12 points to lead UCF (15-9, 7-7). The Knights shot 28% and made 8 of 26 3-point attempts.
UCF cut the lead to one, 45-44, on a 3-pointer by Darius Perry with 12 minutes remaining to cap an 8-0 spurt, but Houston answered with an 11-0 run to build a 56-44 lead on consecutive 3-pointers by Ramon Walker Jr. with nine minutes left.
Houston jumped out to a 17-5 lead, capping off a 13-0 run with a layup by J’Wan Roberts with 11 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Knights responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to two on dunk by C.J. Walker with 5:47 left in the first half.
The Cougars led 31-25 at the half.
BIG PICTURE
UCF: The Knights missed 12 straight field goals in the first half and missed 11 straight field goals in the second half. … Johnson and Darius Perry each were issued technical fouls in the second half.
Houston: The Cougars helped their NCAA Tournament resume with the win. … The Cougars finished with 18 assists on 26 made field goals. … Houston finished with eight blocks as a team, led by Josh Carlton and White who had three blocks each.
WHITE’S ACCOLADES
White became the first player in Houston history to compete in 110 wins and tied Galen Robinson Jr. for most games in Houston history with 136.
FACES IN THE CROWD
NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes and Cleveland Browns quarterback Case Keenum were among those in attendance.
UP NEXT
UCF: Hosts East Carolina on Sunday.
Houston: Travels to Wichita State on Sunday.
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