Coming off a sluggish performance in its non-conference finale, No. 8 Houston will look to pick up its intensity against host Cincinnati in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars (12-1) broke open a close game in the second half of a 69-60 win Monday over Middle Tennessee in their final non-conference game.
Houston has won six straight contests.
Kingston Flemings collected 15 points and five assists vs. the Blue Raiders, while teammate Joseph Tugler added 13 points and six rebounds. Houston also benefited from forcing 19 turnovers, leading to an overwhelming 30-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
Despite the win, Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson said he thought his team needed to play with more urgency.
“It hurts my heart to say this, but I just thought they played harder than we did,” Sampson said. “I thought they out-hustled us, they out-scrapped us. They were the aggressor. We just happened to have, I think our biggest lead was about 14 or 15, something like that. So we’re up 16 and a bunch of guys out there relaxing, just assuming that they’re going to relax, too.”
Houston senior guard Milos Uzan was held to eight points in 32 minutes on 2-of-8 shooting from the field.
“Poor leadership on my end, on the older guys. Just having the wrong mindset. Coming into Big 12,” Uzan said, “it’s going to be a fight every game, so you’ve got to make sure you bring it or you’re going to lose.”
Emanuel Sharp scored 10 points before leaving in the second half after taking a hard fall on the floor. He leads Houston in scoring with an average of 17.0 points per game.
Cincinnati (8-5) is looking for a statement win early in the conference schedule under coach Wes Miller, who has heard the boos from the home crowd after an inconsistent non-conference schedule.
The Bearcats are coming off an 89-62 win over Lipscomb in their final Big 12 tuneup on Monday. Baba Miller had 21 rebounds, 11 points and seven assists for Cincinnati and leads the Big 12 — and is fourth in the nation — in rebounding at an average of 11.5 rebounds a game.
The Bearcats’ offense has picked up under Jizzle James since his return to the team on Dec. 17 against Alabama State.
“I think he’s back,” Miller said of James, who returned to the starting lineup Monday. “He hasn’t missed a beat, he’s in shape, he knows all the systems, all the plays, all the habits we have to have on defense or offense. It feels like he’s just one more, like he’s been here the whole season.”
Kerr Kriisa, who moved to the bench to make room for James, scored 15 points and played a key role in the win over Lipscomb.
“I think we’re figuring it out,” Kriisa said. “We had nine guys take more than five shots. That’s a pretty good sign. It shows that we moved the ball. I think we’re doing a good job of putting it together. Everybody knows the next game is a big one.”
–Field Level Media
