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Truscott Scores Career-High 26 Points To Lead Houston To 82-71 Overtime Victory Over TCU
Jan. 15, 2002
Houston, Texas - Junior forward Louis Truscott scored a career-high 26 points to lead the University of Houston to an 82-71 victory over TCU in a Conference USA game at Hofheinz Pavilion. Truscott made his first of two free throws to give the Cougars a 70-69 lead with 3:40 remaining in overtime. He missed his second attempt, but George Williams grabbed the offensive rebound and passed to Kevin Gaines on the left win. Gaines found Truscott open underneath the basket for a dunk that put Houston up 72-69 lead with 3:27 left to play. On TCU's ensuing possession, Corey Valsin missed a jump shot from just inside the free throw line . Gaines grabbed the rebound and found Patrick Okafor open in Houston's forecourt. Okafor drove to the basket and was intentionally fouled by TCU's Jamal Brown. Okafor made his first free throw, but missed his second. However, Houston retained possession and Williams scored on a five-foot jumper inside the lane to give the Cougars a commanding 75-69 lead. After TCU's Bingo Merriex missed a three-point attempt from the top of the key, Gaines grabbed the rebound and drove the length of the court for a lay-up. The Cougars never looked back as they went on to win 82-71. "I was proud of our team tonight," Houston head coach Ray McCallum said. "We went into overtime and instead of hanging our heads, we got stronger stayed focused and finished the game strong."
Houston had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. Leading 67-65 with 39 seconds left to play, Bryan Shelton's three-point try from the right corner came up short and the Horned Frogs worked the ball inside to Merriex. Merriex made a lay-up and was fouled by Truscott. But, he missed his free throw and Okafor grabbed the rebound to send the game into overtime.
Merriex had given the Horned Frogs the momentum after he made a three-point shot from 38-feet out to give TCU a 37-34 lead at halftime. This marked the first time Houston has won a game after trailing at halftime. "I don't have to tell you that this was a big win for us," McCallum said. "We needed a great effort from the entire team tonight because we knew they were desperate for a win to get back into the conference race. All five of Houston's starting lineup ended the game in double figures and Houston's frontline of Truscott, Williams and Okafor recorded double-doubles. In addition to Truscott's 26 points and 10 rebounds, Williams had 10 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and Okafor added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Gaines scored 12 points on 5 of 5 shooting, including 2 of 2 from beyond the three-point arc,and Dominic Smith tallied 10 points. Gaines added a career-high eight assists and Williams added a career-high seven assists as the Cougars finished the game with 22 assists on 29 baskets. The victory raised Houston's overall record to 8-7 and 2-2 in Conference USA play, while TCU fell to 10-8 and 0-4 in C-USA. The Cougars travel to Prairie View for a non-conference game on Thursday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m. before resuming their C-USA schedule at UAB on Saturday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Birmingham. |
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