Houston didn’t just beat California. The Cougars controlled the game from the opening stretch and rolled to an 86-68 win in the Caesar’s Lake Tahoe Classic at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada.
The No. 10 Cougars moved to 2-0 on the season, while California fell to 2-1. Against a Power Four opponent on a neutral floor, Houston grabbed the early edge and never let it slip.
Joseph Tugler wasted no time setting the tone. The senior forward opened with three early blocks and eight points right away, showing the kind of two-way impact that can make him the team’s best player and its most important leader.
He finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with four blocks, three rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes. Tugler also hit both of his free throws.
After scoring nine points in 16 minutes against La Salle in the opener, this was a strong response.
Thomas Jr. kept the scoring load rolling for Houston. For the second straight game, the senior transfer point guard led the Cougars in points, following a similar role in the exhibition against Michigan and the scrimmage against Ole Miss.
He finished with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, plus eight assists, two rebounds and two steals. He went to the line only once, but that only underscored how many different ways he can score.
And in Kelvin Sampson’s system, the ball security matters just as much - Thomas had only one turnover.
That kind of balance is why Houston can be tough to pin down offensively. Any night can belong to a different scorer, but Thomas is making a strong case as the safest bet.
The other big story was Houston’s defense turning into offense. The Cougars piled up 20 fast break points, forced 14 steals and blocked seven shots.
They also turned 16 turnovers into 22 points. Mercy Miller had three steals of his own, Braden East added two blocks off the bench, and Chendall Weaver made his Houston debut with three steals.
Houston’s next test comes fast. The Cougars are back home Wednesday night against Jacksonville State.
In Other News...
Houston Just Made Its Playoff Push Feel A Lot More Real
Houstons win over Cincinnati in Week 10 did more than keep the Cougars on track in the Big 12. It pushed them to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in league play, a record that now puts them squarely in the conversation as the season enters its final stretch. With three games left, the Cougars are no longer just enjoying a nice run, they are in position to make a real push at the conference title race and keep a College Football Playoff path in view.
The bigger significance is how steady the climb has been. Houston has stayed in every AP poll since the season began, a sign that the national respect has matched the results on the field. For a program trying to turn a strong start into something lasting, the next few weeks will say plenty about whether this surge is the start of a bigger statement or just the latest step in a crowded Big 12 race. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Finally Has Chendall Weaver But One Big Question Remains
Chendall Weavers arrival gave Houston a useful boost in its second game of the season, after a Texas District Court granted him a temporary restraining order that made him eligible to suit up. The ruling opened the door for the Cougars to finally get a look at the guard in live action, and he fit in quickly off the bench against California while giving Houston a little more length, activity and depth on both ends.
The catch is the timeline, because the order only covers a short stretch of the schedule and runs through Nov. 19. For Houston, that means Weaver can help right away during a busy early window, but his longer-term status still hangs in the balance as the Cougars wait to see whether the situation is extended or changed in time to keep him available. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Just Added To A Rivals Late-Season Mess
Arizona States 20-13 win over Colorado on Nov. 7 did more than tighten the standings in the Big 12 race. It also left the Buffaloes with a much narrower path forward, one made even harder by the same issues that have dogged them for much of the season: uneven play up front, shaky quarterback decisions and the lack of a dependable third option in the passing game.
For Houston, the ripple effect is obvious. The Cougars are still staring at a Colorado team that now has to treat every remaining week like a must-win stretch, and the next hurdle is a tough one against No. 16 Houston. Deion Sanders is under real pressure to keep the season from slipping away, and the margin for error has become so thin that one more stumble could turn the rest of the schedule into little more than a formality. [Read more 🡒]