The third-ranked Houston Cougars raced by Oral Roberts Monday night, 83-45. Tramon Mark led all scorers with 23 points while Marcus Sasser had 19.
The Cougars were clunky early, trying to go right at ORU’s 7’5″ center, Connor Vanover. Houston had four fouls before the under-16 timeout in the first half. But a switch to a four-guard lineup calmed the team down and sparked a 43-16 run to end the half.
Kelvin Sampson credited the selfless way Ramon Walker played, especially in the first half.
Jamal Shead’s stat sheet was not impressive, but he locked down Max Abmas, holding the ORU star to 1/13 shooting (7.7%). Abmas was the leading scorer in all of NCAA D1 basketball in 2020-21 (24.5 ppg). Abmas had 14 points and seven rebounds against Saint Mary’s to open the season but was held to just 3 points and two rebounds Monday.
It was an impressive showing against the #2-rated point guard in the country.
The Top 25 Point Guards in College Basketball? pic.twitter.com/osOcz1Q4od
— Parker Hamann (@CBKReport) October 3, 2022
Ja’Vier Francis came off the bench and scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds, his first collegiate double-double. Terrance Arceneaux also impressed with 14 points and five boards.
Oral Roberts was held to 7/31 shooting in each half, and Houston outrebounded them 52-30.