Feb 20, 2002

Box Score

HOUSTON (AP) - Dominic Smith scored 30 points, including five free throws in the final 33 seconds of overtime, lifting the Houston Cougars to an 85-81 victory Tuesday night over Tulane.

The Cougars just survived a seven-minute scoring lapse when they managed only seven points late in the second half. A driving lay-in at the buzzer by Tulane's Waitari Marsh tied the game at 70-70 and sent the game into overtime.

Louis Truscott added 18 points and 20 rebounds for Houston (15-11, 8-5 Conference USA). Smith was 8-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-8 on 3-pointers, and made 12 of 15 free throws.

Brandon Brown scored 18 points to lead Tulane (13-11, 5-8). Brandon Spann added 15 points and Nick Sinville 12.

After Brown's two free throws produced a 61-61 tie with 6:30 to play, neither team led by more than one point and there were six lead changes over the next 5{ minutes.

But Tulane riddled the Cougars defense with 61.5-percent shooting (16 of 26) in the first half as UH, though hitting 53.3 percent, went 0-for-8 on 3-pointers. The Green Wave led 37-36 at the half.

The Cougars outrebounded Tulane 40-33, outscoring the Green Wave 24-14 on second-chance goals. Of Truscott's 20 rebounds, 12 came on the offensive boards.

Tulane had 19 bench points to 8 for Houston.