PENN

HOU

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No. 3 Houston improves to 13-0 with 81-42 win over Penn

AP
Dec 31, 2023

HOUSTON (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 16 points, Jamal Shead added 14 points and No. 3 Houston stayed unbeaten with an 81-42 win over Penn on Saturday night.

Cryer scored 12 points in the first half as Houston (13-0) jumped to an 18-0 lead and led 39-17 at the half. Cryer scored his 1,000th career collegiate point between Baylor and Houston on a 3-pointer with 14:15 left in the first half.

Joseph Tugler had 13 points and seven rebounds, Emanuel Sharp scored 12 and Damian Dunn had 11 for Houston, which shot 48%. The Cougars forced 22 turnovers, which they converted into 25 points. Houston also held a 42-28 rebounding advantage.

“Our effort was outstanding,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of the quick start. “We had a great plan. We knew exactly how we wanted to guard them, and our kids executed. … Our quickness and our attention to detail I thought were good tonight.”

Tyler Perkins had 10 points and Nick Spinoso added eight points for Penn (8-6).

“Just disappointed with the first 12 to 15 minutes,” Penn coach Steve Donahue said. “We got knocked on our heels, and they’re terrific first off. I didn’t think we handled it well not only on the offensive end but on the defensive end.”

Houston is one of three remaining undefeated teams along with No. 20 James Madison and No. 24 Mississippi.

Houston has won 13 straight home games and improved to 13-0 for the third time in school history, joining the 2018-19 and 1967-68 Cougar teams.

Sampson said being 13-0 probably means nothing to the team.

“They probably take their cue from me,” Sampson said. “I don’t overreact to wins and losses. I just never have. I’ve lost a tons of games. I have never ever worried about losing a game. I’ve been disappointed a lot that we lost, but that’s the extent of it because we have another game to play.”

The Quakers shot 31% and were 7 of 26 on 3-pointers.

BIG PICTURE

Penn: The Quakers fell to 1-2 against ranked teams this season. They fell to 0-8 all-time against No. 3 ranked teams. … Clark Slajchert, who leads Penn in scoring with 18.8 points per game, did not score before hobbling to the bench early in the first half and not returning.

Donahue said Clark had an ankle injury.

“Obviously, he’s been a big part of what we do,” Donahue said. “You lose a kid who is averaging close to 20 (points per game) in a game like this, makes the task that much more daunting.”

Houston: The Cougars were without starting forward J’Wan Roberts, who has been dealing with a knee injury. Tugler started in his place. … Houston continued to get it done on the defensive end but also continued to get it done in the paint, outscoring Penn 44-14 in the paint.

UP NEXT

Penn: At Auburn on Tuesday.

Houston: Hosts West Virginia on Jan. 6 to open Big 12 conference play.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
PENN
Quakers
17
HOU
Cougars
39

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Nick Spinoso vs. Ja'Vier Francis (Cougars gains possession)
19:47		Ja'Vier Francis misses two point layup
19:45		Emanuel Sharp offensive rebound
19:35	+3	Jamal Shead makes three point jump shot (Emanuel Sharp assists)	0-3
19:04		Clark Slajchert misses two point jump shot
19:02		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
18:47		Emanuel Sharp misses two point layup
18:45		LJ Cryer offensive rebound
18:37		LJ Cryer misses two point layup
18:35		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
18:35		Clark Slajchert personal foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
18:29	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot	0-5
18:10		Sam Brown misses three point jump shot
18:08		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
17:58		LJ Cryer turnover (George Smith steals)
17:52		Emanuel Sharp personal foul (Sam Brown draws the foul)
17:30		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
17:28		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
17:12	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot	0-7
16:51		George Smith misses three point jump shot
16:49		Cougars defensive rebound
16:33		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
16:31		Sam Brown defensive rebound
16:17		Nick Spinoso turnover (Joseph Tugler steals)
15:59		Nick Spinoso shooting foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
15:58		TV timeout
15:58		Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:58	+1	Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-8
15:36		Clark Slajchert turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
15:27		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
15:25		Ramon Walker Jr. offensive rebound
15:18		Nick Spinoso shooting foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
15:18		Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:18		Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:18		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
15:11		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
15:09		Andrew Laczkowski defensive rebound
14:47		Cam Thrower misses three point jump shot
14:45		LJ Cryer defensive rebound
14:39		Cam Thrower personal foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
14:38	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)	0-11
14:21		Johnnie Walter turnover (Damian Dunn steals)
14:14	+3	LJ Cryer makes three point jump shot	0-14
13:59		Damian Dunn personal foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
13:54		Clark Slajchert turnover (bad pass)
13:34		Sam Brown shooting foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul)
13:34	+1	Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 1 of 2	0-15
13:34	+1	Damian Dunn makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-16
13:20		Nick Spinoso turnover (Damian Dunn steals)
13:12		Ramon Walker Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:10		Damian Dunn offensive rebound
13:06	+2	Damian Dunn makes two point jump shot	0-18
13:05		Quakers 30 second timeout
12:57		Andrew Laczkowski turnover (bad pass)
12:42		Damian Dunn turnover (traveling)
12:26		Nick Spinoso turnover (Ramon Walker Jr. steals)
12:17		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
12:15		Cam Thrower defensive rebound
11:49		Tyler Perkins misses two point jump shot
11:47		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
11:38		Ramon Walker Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:36		Damian Dunn offensive rebound
11:24		Damian Dunn misses two point layup
11:22		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
11:18		Ja'Vier Francis misses two point layup
11:16		Sam Brown defensive rebound
11:01	+3	Sam Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyler Perkins assists)	3-18
10:37		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
10:35		Quakers defensive rebound
10:35		Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul
10:34		TV timeout
10:13	+3	Sam Brown makes three point jump shot (Nick Spinoso assists)	6-18
9:45	+3	Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Joseph Tugler assists)	6-21
9:21		Nick Spinoso turnover (LJ Cryer steals)
9:15	+2	Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup (LJ Cryer assists)	6-23
9:00		Niklas Polonowski misses three point jump shot
8:58		Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
8:36		Emanuel Sharp turnover (George Smith steals)
8:32		Ramon Walker Jr. personal foul (George Smith draws the foul)
8:30		Sam Brown turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
8:23		Damian Dunn misses three point jump shot
8:21		George Smith defensive rebound
8:08		Tyler Perkins misses two point layup
8:06		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
7:58	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point layup	6-25
7:43		George Smith offensive foul
7:43		George Smith turnover (offensive foul)
7:43		TV timeout
7:30	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point layup (Jamal Shead assists)	6-27
7:15		Nick Spinoso turnover (Damian Dunn steals)
7:08		Damian Dunn turnover (Tyler Perkins steals)
7:08		Damian Dunn personal foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
6:44		Reese McMullen misses three point jump shot
6:42		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
6:33		LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot
6:31		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
6:28		Joseph Tugler misses two point layup
6:26		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
6:22	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point layup	6-29
6:10		George Smith misses three point jump shot
6:08		Reese McMullen offensive rebound
6:01		Joseph Tugler blocks Reese McMullen's two point jump shot
6:01		Reese McMullen offensive rebound
5:51	+3	Tyler Perkins makes three point jump shot (Andrew Laczkowski assists)	9-29
5:34	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamal Shead assists)	9-31
5:06		Andrew Laczkowski misses three point jump shot
5:04		Jamal Shead defensive rebound
4:45		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
4:43		George Smith defensive rebound
4:30		Andrew Laczkowski misses three point jump shot
4:28		George Smith offensive rebound
4:22	+3	Reese McMullen makes three point jump shot (George Smith assists)	12-31
4:06	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point layup	12-33
3:45		Ja'Vier Francis blocks Andrew Laczkowski's two point jump shot
3:43		Quakers offensive rebound
3:42		TV timeout
3:33		Sam Brown misses three point jump shot
3:31		Andrew Laczkowski offensive rebound
3:24		Reese McMullen misses three point jump shot
3:22		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
3:13		Emanuel Sharp misses two point jump shot
3:11		Andrew Laczkowski defensive rebound
2:48		Ramon Walker Jr. shooting foul (Eddie Holland III draws the foul)
2:48		Eddie Holland III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:48	+1	Eddie Holland III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-33
2:32	+2	Damian Dunn makes two point layup	13-35
2:02		Sam Brown misses three point jump shot
2:00		Eddie Holland III offensive rebound
1:53		Sam Brown turnover (out of bounds)
1:46		Ja'Vier Francis misses two point layup
1:44		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
1:39		Ja'Vier Francis turnover (Andrew Laczkowski steals)
1:36		Ja'Vier Francis personal foul (George Smith draws the foul)
1:36	+1	George Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-35
1:36	+1	George Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-35
1:18		Eddie Holland III shooting foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
1:18	+1	Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-36
1:18	+1	Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-37
0:57		Joseph Tugler blocks Nick Spinoso's two point layup
0:55		Nick Spinoso offensive rebound
0:48	+2	Nick Spinoso makes two point layup	17-37
0:30	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point jump shot	17-39
0:01		Cam Thrower turnover (Jamal Shead steals)
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
PENN
Quakers
25
HOU
Cougars
42

Time		Play	Score
20:00		LJ Cryer misses three point jump shot
19:58		Reese McMullen defensive rebound
19:53		Emanuel Sharp personal foul (Reese McMullen draws the foul)
19:32		Joseph Tugler shooting foul (George Smith draws the foul)
19:32		George Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:32		George Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:32		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
19:24		Jamal Shead misses two point jump shot
19:22		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
19:14		Ja'Vier Francis misses two point layup
19:12		Nick Spinoso defensive rebound
19:00		Tyler Perkins turnover (Ja'Vier Francis steals)
18:53		Ja'Vier Francis turnover (Tyler Perkins steals)
18:53		Reese McMullen turnover (Joseph Tugler steals)
18:41		George Smith personal foul (Ja'Vier Francis draws the foul)
18:40		LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot
18:38		George Smith defensive rebound
18:28	+2	Tyler Perkins makes two point layup	19-39
18:28		Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
18:28	+1	Tyler Perkins makes regular free throw 1 of 1	20-39
18:04		Joseph Tugler misses two point hook shot
18:02		Nick Spinoso defensive rebound
17:41	+2	Nick Spinoso makes two point layup (George Smith assists)	22-39
17:09	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point dunk (LJ Cryer assists)	22-41
16:51	+3	Tyler Perkins makes three point jump shot	25-41
16:33	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point layup (LJ Cryer assists)	25-43
16:22		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
16:20		Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound
16:17	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point layup	25-45
15:54		Sam Brown turnover (Ramon Walker Jr. steals)
15:50		Tyler Perkins personal foul (Ramon Walker Jr. draws the foul)
15:50		TV timeout
15:40	+3	Jamal Shead makes three point jump shot (LJ Cryer assists)	25-48
15:15		Reese McMullen misses two point layup
15:13		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
15:05		Jamal Shead turnover (Tyler Perkins steals)
14:51	+2	Nick Spinoso makes two point layup	27-48
14:31	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot	27-50
14:09	+2	Nick Spinoso makes two point layup	29-50
13:58		Sam Brown personal foul (Damian Dunn draws the foul)
13:43		LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot
13:41		Mylik Wilson offensive rebound
13:41		Reese McMullen shooting foul (Mylik Wilson draws the foul)
13:41	+1	Mylik Wilson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-51
13:41	+1	Mylik Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-52
13:22		Nick Spinoso turnover (lost ball)
13:00	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot (Ramon Walker Jr. assists)	29-54
12:37		Emanuel Sharp personal foul (Nick Spinoso draws the foul)
12:30		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
12:28		Nick Spinoso offensive rebound
12:15		Sam Brown misses three point jump shot
12:13		Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
11:55	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point layup	29-56
11:27		TV timeout
11:24		Tyler Perkins misses two point jump shot
11:22		Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound
11:06		Sam Brown shooting foul (LJ Cryer draws the foul)
11:06		LJ Cryer misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:06		LJ Cryer misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:06		Cam Thrower defensive rebound
10:45		Andrew Laczkowski turnover (Emanuel Sharp steals)
10:37	+2	Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup	29-58
10:17		Johnnie Walter offensive foul
10:17		Johnnie Walter turnover (offensive foul)
10:03		Ja'Vier Francis misses two point layup
10:01		Johnnie Walter defensive rebound
9:47		Ja'Vier Francis blocks Reese McMullen's two point layup
9:45		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
9:37		Mylik Wilson misses two point layup
9:35		Emanuel Sharp offensive rebound
9:26		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
9:24		Andrew Laczkowski defensive rebound
9:08	+2	Andrew Laczkowski makes two point layup	31-58
8:47	+3	Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)	31-61
8:31	+3	Niklas Polonowski makes three point jump shot (Reese McMullen assists)	34-61
8:14	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point jump shot	34-63
7:57		Cam Thrower misses three point jump shot
7:55		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
7:45		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
7:43		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
7:39	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point hook shot	34-65
7:32		Quakers 30 second timeout
7:32		TV timeout
7:18		Andrew Laczkowski misses two point layup
7:16		Andrew Laczkowski offensive rebound
7:11	+2	Andrew Laczkowski makes two point layup	36-65
6:51		Jamal Shead misses three point jump shot
6:49		Tyler Perkins defensive rebound
6:26		Joseph Tugler shooting foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
6:26		TV timeout
6:24		Damian Dunn personal foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
6:16		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
6:14		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
5:55		LJ Cryer misses two point jump shot
5:53		Jamal Shead offensive rebound
5:48	+2	Jamal Shead makes two point layup	36-67
5:37		Joseph Tugler shooting foul (Tyler Perkins draws the foul)
5:37	+1	Tyler Perkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-67
5:37		Tyler Perkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:37		Cougars defensive rebound
5:23	+3	Damian Dunn makes three point jump shot (Mylik Wilson assists)	37-70
5:02		Nick Spinoso turnover (double dribble)
4:41	+2	LJ Cryer makes two point jump shot	37-72
4:17		Niklas Polonowski misses three point jump shot
4:15		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
3:58		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
3:56		Ramon Walker Jr. offensive rebound
3:50		TV timeout
3:44	+2	Damian Dunn makes two point jump shot	37-74
3:25		Eddie Holland III misses two point jump shot
3:23		Damian Dunn defensive rebound
3:15	+2	Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup	37-76
2:47		Mylik Wilson blocks Niklas Polonowski's two point jump shot
2:45		Quakers offensive rebound
2:44		Quakers turnover (shot clock violation)
2:28		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
2:26		Ramon Walker Jr. offensive rebound
2:18	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot	37-78
1:49		Reese McMullen misses three point jump shot
1:47		Ramon Walker Jr. defensive rebound
1:29		Damian Dunn misses two point jump shot
1:27		Cedric Lath offensive rebound
1:27		Andrew Laczkowski personal foul (Cedric Lath draws the foul)
1:27	+1	Cedric Lath makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-79
1:27		Cedric Lath misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:27		Eddie Holland III defensive rebound
1:07		Augustus Gerhart turnover (Mylik Wilson steals)
1:07		Andrew Laczkowski personal foul (Mylik Wilson draws the foul)
1:07	+1	Mylik Wilson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-80
1:07	+1	Mylik Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-81
0:47		Damian Dunn shooting foul (Eddie Holland III draws the foul)
0:47	+1	Eddie Holland III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-81
0:47	+1	Eddie Holland III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-81
0:32		Ryan Elvin misses three point jump shot
0:30		Eddie Holland III defensive rebound
0:19	+3	Niklas Polonowski makes three point jump shot (Andrew Laczkowski assists)	42-81
0:00		End of period

+ 3

Niklas Polonowski makes three point jump shot (Andrew Laczkowski assists)