No. 10 Houston wasted no time setting the tone for its 2026-27 season, rolling past La Salle 94-55 Monday night at Fertitta Center and flashing several of the traits that could define this group.
The Cougars looked far more comfortable attacking downhill than settling for jumpers. Houston finished with only five 3-pointers and shot 36 percent from deep, but that was hardly the story.
The real damage came at the rim and at the line, where the Cougars went 27-for-37 overall and piled up 44 points in the paint. La Salle managed just 10 paint points.
Senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. led the way with 16 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. He did most of his scoring at the stripe, knocking down 11 of 14 free throws while making just two field goals. His ability to pressure the defense was a major part of Houston’s offensive rhythm.
The frontcourt also gave Houston plenty to like. Five-star center Arafan Diane, the No. 1 center prospect in the class of 2026, delivered in his first game with 10 points, four rebounds and two steals. He shot 5-for-9 from the field and made an impact in 20 minutes off the bench, showing the mobility that stood out after he dropped weight in the offseason.
Senior forward Delrecco Gillespie was Houston’s most productive big, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal while going 5-for-6 from the floor. Braden East also gave the Cougars a useful lift off the bench with nine points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist in a steady showing.
Joseph Tugler’s night was interrupted by foul trouble again. The senior star forward picked up four fouls in 16 minutes, continuing an issue that has followed him.
Mercy Miller started at shooting guard and finished with five points, seven rebounds and five assists, while the bench scoring got another boost from senior transfer Hadnot II, who scored 14 points and handed out five assists in just under 22 minutes. He shot 6-for-10 from the field.
The win also extended a remarkable run for Houston in openers. The Cougars have now won 18 straight season openers and 22 of their last 23, and Kelvin Sampson is 13-0 in season openers at Houston.
The game had a little edge to it, too. Three technical fouls were called in the first half, including one on Sampson, who was clearly unhappy with the officiating. Thomas was later assessed a flagrant one foul in the second half, and redshirt sophomore forward Chase McCarty left after taking a hard hit to the knee and did not return.
“Whatever it is, it’s not that bad,” Sampson said of the injury.
Houston’s next stop is Lake Tahoe, where it will face California on Sunday in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.
In Other News...
Houstons Bye Week May Have Changed Everything For This Stretch Run
Houstons bye week came at a good time, and Willie Fritz sounded encouraged about where the Cougars stand coming out of it. During his weekly press conference, the coach said the break gave the team a chance to heal up after a run of injuries, with several important contributors back on the practice field as Houston turns its attention to the stretch run.
The timing matters because these are the kinds of players who can reshape how the Cougars look on both sides of the ball. Tight end Patrick Overmyer, quarterback Conner Weigman, linebacker Jaden Yates and defensive tackle DeMarion Thomas all had been sidelined by injuries in earlier games, and getting them back into the mix gives Houston a much healthier foundation as it heads into the next part of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Faces A Big 12 Threat That Could Derail Everything
Houston comes out of its bye week with a game that carries real Big 12 weight, and the opponent is one that has given the Cougars trouble for years. Cincinnati visits TDECU Stadium on Nov. 7, fresh off a win over ranked Texas Tech, and the Bearcats arrive with enough balance on offense to make this a tricky matchup for a Houston defense that has had issues against both the run and the pass.
Cole Tabb has been the engine on the ground for Cincinnati, while JC French IV gives the Bearcats another layer as a passer, which is exactly the kind of combination that can stress a defense. For Houston, the stakes go beyond one November afternoon, because this is the sort of game that can keep a championship path intact or leave the Cougars scrambling to recover in the Big 12 race. [Read more 🡒]
Houstons First CFP Ranking Could Change The Willie Fritz Conversation
Houston has spent enough of the season building a rsum that feels sturdier than the usual Group of 5 talking point. The Cougars have quality wins on the board, and even the losses have come in a way that suggests they can still be judged as a serious team rather than a fluky one. With the first College Football Playoff rankings arriving, the attention around Willie Fritz and his program is shifting from simple respect to something a little bigger.
What makes the next stretch so interesting is how much is still in play. Houston has upcoming games that can either strengthen the case or chip away at it, and the recent injury news only adds another layer to the conversation. If the Cougars keep stacking results, the debate around where they fit in the playoff picture could get a lot more serious than anyone expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]