The Houston Cougars ran Montana out of Fertitta Center from the opening tip and won it 79-44. UH shot 46.6% on the afternoon and led by as many as 42 late in the game. L.J. Cryer scored 24 and J’Wan Roberts and Jamal Shead each added 13. Off the bench, Terrance Arceneaux grabbed nine rebounds while, as a team, Houston had 15 offensive boards off of missed 31 shots.
the daily #117 | 11/25/2023 | Archives
Pregame shoot-around highlights
Houston Cougars 79, Montana Griz 44
Gamebook | Season Stats | CATS!
Quick thoughts: L.J. Cryer has started showing why he was recruited from the transfer portal. He shot 9/16 (56.3%) for the game and 5/12 from three (41.7%). Cryer shoots it just 38% on the season from three, but he can bump that to 44-46%, as shown in the last few seasons. He’ll average about 55% of his shots from beyond the arc, so Friday’s 12/16 from deep is abnormal.
Emanuel Sharp continues to rebound solidly since being called out after the ULM game for grabbing 0 boards. He’s had 22 rebounds since the Stetson game, averaging 4.4 in that stretch.
Shead was 5/5 inside the arc and had seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds. He found out after the game that his close friend and former roommate Tramon Mark was taken off the floor in the Bahamas on a stretcher. His demeanor immediately changed, and jogged to the locker room to get his phone to text Tramon. Mark had a career day (34 points) before the injury. He was released from the hospital Friday night. Jamal and Tramon are close and were roommates when Mark was at Houston.
Starns Leland wrote a fantastic story on Shead and Mark last season.
Postgame presser highlights
On this day: On November 25, 2020, UH beat Lamar 89-45 to open the season. Marcus Sasser was 9/11 from the floor and 7/9 from three and had 27 points.
The Cougars would win the AAC, the AAC Tournament, the Midwest Regional, and make the Final Four. They finished 6th in the AP and 3rd in the Coaches Poll.
Watch the Cougar After Thoughts Show (CATS!)
Follow GoCoogs on YouTube
No one has more fun with Cougar Basketball players, showing their personalities, quirks, and behind-the-scenes action, than GoCoogs.com. Follow us today!
