It's been a rough season for the Houston Cougars, but down the stretch the Cougars have rallied to win three of their last four games including a 29-point blowout win 82-53 at home tonight vs. Tulane.
Jonathon Simmons led the way for the Cougars with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win. All five starters for Houston tallied double-figure scoring. TaShawn Thomas chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Cougars avenged a Feb. 4 blowout loss at Tulane 75-54 in a game where Simmons managed only 10 points to go with five turnovers.
The Green Wave sit in 11th place in C-USA with a 15-14, 3-12 C-USA record. It's been a roller coaster season in New Orleans after the Green Wave started 9-0 then sat at 13-2 at the halfway point of the season, but when the C-USA schedule began they hit rock bottom. Tulane has managed only three wins since the calendar turned to 2012.
Houston sits at 14-14, 6-9 Conference USA this season. Head Coach James Dickey and the Cougars had lost four in a row in early February but have bounced back and have put together the three straight home wins leading up to the regular season finale at surging Rice.
The Cougars coasted in the second half to outscore Tulane 38-23. Josh Davis led the Green Wave with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Tulane has lost six games in a row.