University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Nike Elite-Exhibition
Cougars Suffer 85-80 Loss Against Nike Elite
11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2001
Houston, Texas - Despite a career-high 24 points by senior forward Patrick Okafor, the University of Houston men's basketball team suffered an 85-80 loss to Nike Elite in an exhibition game at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Okafor also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to record the 10th double-double of his career at UH, but he didn't have enough help as the Cougars shot just 34 percent from the field, including just 17.4 (4-23) from the three point line.
"That was the difference in the game," Houston head coach Ray McCallum said. "You are not going to win many games when you shoot just four of 23 from the three-point line."
The Cougars almost overcame their ice-cold shooting after trailing 69-59 with 7:31 left to play.
First, Louis Truscott made a lay-up and Bryan Shelton made his only three-point field goal of the night to cut the lead in half, 69-64 with 6:42 left to play.
Following a turnover by Nike's Ted Dupay, senior guard Dominic Smith made a layup and Marcus Oliver hit one of his two free throws to pull the Cougars to within 70-67 with 5:42 left to play.
But, that was as close as Houston could get as the Cougars made just four of their next 14 field goal attempts and Nike outscored the Cougars 15-13 down the stretch.
Wil Trawnick scored 17 points and Coleco Buie added 13 points to lead Nike. Dupay finished the game with 11 points and six assists fir the Elite.
In addition to Okafor, three other Cougars scored in double figures. Marcus Oliver netted a career-high 16 points, Dominic Smith added 15 points and Louis Truscott scored 14 points in his Cougar debut. Junior forward George Williams tallied seven points to go along with his 12 rebounds.
Houston will play a second exhibition game against the Texas Blue Chips on Sunday, November 11, at 2:30 p.m. before opening the regular season against UCLA in the Maui Invitational on November 19.
