SB Nation Houston - Houston Takes Share Of C-USA Leadhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-01-20T00:04:31-06:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17087012011-01-20T00:04:31-06:002011-01-20T00:04:31-06:00Coogs Win Third Straight, 64-57 Over Tulsa
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27081/zamal-nixon">Zamal Nixon</a> scored 14 points as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a> up-ended the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa, 64-57, in a Conference <span class="caps">USA</span> clash at the Hofheinz Pavilion.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123655/darian-thibodeaux">Darian Thibodeaux</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100214/adam-brown">Adam Brown</a> netted 11 points apiece in the win for Houston (11-6, 3-1 <span class="caps">CUSA</span>), while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123656/alandise-harris">Alandise Harris</a> added 10.</p>
<p>Tulsa (9-9, 2-2) was led by a game-high 20 points from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27252/justin-hurtt">Justin Hurtt</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27250/steven-idlet">Steven Idlet</a> recorded a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds in the loss, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100252/bryson-pope">Bryson Pope</a> contributed 13 points.</p>
<p>The Golden Hurricane held a slim 30-29 advantage at the intermission after holding Houston to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor in the opening half.</p>
<p>The Cougars were able to secure the seven-point victory after improving to 45.0 percent from the field in the second stanza, while converting 15 of their 21 attempts from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>Houston committed just six turnover during the affair, while turning Tulsa’s nine mistakes into 13 points.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/1/20/1945698/coogs-win-third-straight-64-57-over-tulsaRivers McCown2011-01-19T14:26:35-06:002011-01-19T14:26:35-06:00Coogs Host Tulsa As They Look To Run Win Streak To Three
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/houston-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Cougars</a> shoot for their fifth win in six games Wednesday against the visiting Golden Hurricane of Tulsa in a Conference USA clash from Hofheinz Pavilion.</p>
<p>Houston continued its winning ways with a gutty 70-68 win at SMU on Saturday. Freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123656/alandise-harris" class="sbn-auto-link">Alandise Harris</a> sank two free throws for a three-point lead with 13 seconds to play, part of a career-best 19-point night. He added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, while senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100214/adam-brown" class="sbn-auto-link">Adam Brown</a> helped spark the win with 22 points off the bench. Junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123655/darian-thibodeaux" class="sbn-auto-link">Darian Thibodeaux</a> also had a career night with 17 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting. Houston hit a season-high 11 threes overall on 19 attempts.</p>
<p>Tulsa won for the second time in three games Saturday, putting forth a strong effort in defeating UAB at home, 78-62. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27252/justin-hurtt" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Hurtt</a> scored 17 points and dished out five assists to lead the team in both categories, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27250/steven-idlet" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Idlet</a> added 16 points and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52417/scottie-haralson" class="sbn-auto-link">Scottie Haralson</a> kicked in 14 points. Redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100255/kodi-maduka" class="sbn-auto-link">Kodi Maduka</a> gave Tulsa some nice minutes as well, notching nine points and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes. The Golden Hurricane connected on 53.8 percent of their shots overall.</p>
<p>Tulsa won the last three games in the series to knot its all-time ledger with the Cougars at 19 games apiece. The Golden Hurricane picked up a win in Houston the last time these two tangled, 86-80, last January. The Cougars hold an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series at home.</p>
<p>The Golden Hurricane feature four players that average double-figure scoring led by Hurtt's 20.9 per game. Idlet follows with a solid 13.8-point average and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds per game. Haralson provides 12.8 points per contest and tops the roster with 50 three-pointers. He shoots 40.3 percent from beyond. Finally, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124493/jordan-clarkson" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Clarkson</a> checks in at a 10.6-ppg scoring average with Tulsa averaging 72.8 points collectively. The Hurricane shoots the ball at a 44.6-percent clip from the field overall, but opponents are held to 42.3 percent shooting and 69.6 points on average. Tulsa has a nice advantage on the boards as well, holding a plus-4.1 margin on average (36.3-32.2).</p>
<p>The Cougars have steady contributors across the board, none more than Brown, who leads the team in scoring at 14.8 per game. He also leads the club in three-pointers with 33, shooting a healthy 47.8 percent from long distance. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100210/maurice-mcneil" class="sbn-auto-link">Maurice McNeil</a> helps carry the load with a 13.5-point average and a team- leading 8.6 rebounds per game. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100216/kendrick-washington" class="sbn-auto-link">Kendrick Washington</a> adds to the well-rounded attack with 11.5 points and 6.4 boards. In addition, a trio of players check in at 8.0 points or better, including Thibodeaux (8.6 ppg) <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27081/zamal-nixon" class="sbn-auto-link">Zamal Nixon</a> (8.4) and Harris (8.2), who is averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while hitting all but two of his 18 free throw attempts in the last two games. The Cougars were coming off a 76-71 upending of then No. 19 previously unbeaten UCF prior to taking on SMU. Overall, Houston scores 71.4 points per game and makes 46.0 percent of its field goals. Opponents average 68.2 points on 41.4 percent shooting from the floor.</p>
<p>Houston is on a roll right now, and it seems the team has an endless supply of players with the ability to provide that extra lift on a given night. Tulsa isn't exactly a pushover, but expect the Cougars to continue a high level of play and take care of business at home.</p>
<p>Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Houston 74, Tulsa 66</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/1/19/2328316/coogs-host-tulsa-as-they-look-to-run-win-streak-to-threeRivers McCown