University of Houston Athletics
Houston Defeated By Southwest Texas State, 68-59
12/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 9, 2002
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Despite 20 points by Andre Owens and Louis Truscott's third double-double of the season, the University of Houston men's basketball team suffered a 68-59 loss at Southwest Texas State.
The Cougars started the game slowly in the first three minutes before using a 16-7 run to take an 18-13 lead with 7:59 left to play in the first half. Houston led 26-18 before Southwest Texas State rallied to tie the score, 34-34, at halftime.
Houston had a tough time scoring points in the second half as the Cougars missed 21 of their first 28 shots in the second period. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Coleman, who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Southwest Texas State, started the Bobcats on a 15-6 run with a slam dunk 16 seconds into the second half.
After trailing by as many as 10 points, the Cougars looked like they might rally for a come-from-behind win when Owens hit a trey from the left wing to pull Houston to within 61-57 with two minutes left to play. But, Truscott was charged with his fifth foul on the play underneath and the Bobcats outscored Houston 7-2 the rest of the way. Those two points came on Anwar Ferguson's pair of free throws.
In addition to his 20 points, Owens grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, while Truscott added 15 points and 13 rebounds before picking up his fifth foul.
Houston was 21-of-61 from the field to 20-of-56 for Southwest Texas and had one less 3-pointer, but free throws made the difference.
Aguko was 7-of-7 from the line and Brad Brickens was 5-of-6 as the Bobcats converted 21 of 31 free throws.
Houston tried only 16 free throws, making 11 of them. Southwest Texas had 11 assists to 11 turnovers, while Houston had 4 assists to 18 turnovers.
The Cougars will play host to San Diego State on December 21 at 1:00 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.
