Men's Basketball
Oliver Scores A Season-High 18 Points To Lead Houston To a 56-45 victory over Bethune Cookman

Cougars improve to 2-2 at home with the victory.


 

  
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Dec. 17, 2003

Box Score

Making his first start of the season, senior guard Marcus Oliver scored a season-high 18 points to lead the University of Houston to a 56-45 victory over Bethune Cookman in Hofheinz Pavilion Wednesday night.

Houston began the game with both of its starting forward Cedrick Hensley and Andrew Francis on the sidelines with injuries. Hensley was forced to miss the game because of a hip pointer and Francis is out with a back injury.

Oliver replaced Hensley in the starting lineup and took advantage of his first start as he opened the game scoring 10 points in the first half to give the Cougars a 29-20 lead.

"It was good to have a chance to start," Oliver said. "I felt it was another opportunity to make the best of my senior year. I came out shooting the ball well, but it didn't feel any different from any other game this year. Tonight I had some opportunities and was able to take advantage of them."

Another player who took advantage of increased playing time was junior guard Bryan Shelton, who finished the game with 12 points after making four of his five three-point shots. It marks the first time in his career that Shelton has scored in double figures during back-to-back games. He also led the Cougars with a career-high 16 points at UTEP on December 8. Shelton's hot hand helped offset junior guard Andre Owens scoring just four points. It marked the first time in the last 10 games dating back to last season that Owens has not scored in double figures.

Senior center Anwar Ferguson also took advantage of his size inside as he finished the game with 11 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.

 

 

"We were happy to get the win tonight after having to adjust our starting rotation," Houston head coach Ray McCallum said. "We got the win because Marcus and Bryan stepped up. They are two of our team leaders since they have been to the semifinals of our conference championship. Tonight, they demonstrated what experience can do."

Houston improved its record to 2-3 overall this season with the victory and it was the Cougars second straight win at home. UH is now 2-2 in home games and will play host to Washington on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.

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