L.J. Rose had 16 points and five assists for Houston (16-14,
8-9 American Athletic Conference), which shot 55.1 percent
from the field, including 12-of-23 from 3-point range. Jherrod
Stiggers added 15 points off the bench, helping make up for an
off night by leading scorer TaShawn Thomas, who finished with
eight points, half his season average.
Victor Rudd scored 25 points to lead the way for South Florida
(12-18, 3-14), which dropped its seventh straight game. Martino
Brock contributed 19 points off the bench for the Bulls,
outscoring by three the total of the other four South Florida
starters.
The Cougars seemed in control for much of the first half, taking
a nine-point advantage with just over five minutes to play on
Thomas' dunk. But the Bulls responded with a12-2 run to take a
one-point lead before Stiggers' 3-pointer with two seconds left
gave the Cougars a two-point halftime advantage.
Houston scored the first seven points of the second half to
re-establish its comfortable advantage, pushing the lead to as
many as 15 with more than 13 minutes to go. The Bulls scored the
next 12 points to make it interesting again, and tied the game
with 5:33 to go, but the Cougars' 15-3 run over the next 4:53
ended all hopes of a come-from-behind win.
GAME NOTEBOOK: South Florida made1-of-9 from 3-point range and
12-of-24 from the free-throw line. …The Cougars won the rebound
battle 35-28. … The win clinched the No. 6 seed in the upcoming
AAC tournament for the Cougars, giving them an opening-round bye.
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