Houston Cougars Narrowly Outpaced at Hilton Coliseum
The Houston Cougars, ranked 2nd, faced a challenging contest against the unranked Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The final score read 57-53 in favor of the home team, with both sides displaying a competitive spirit throughout the game. The Cougars' season record now stands at an impressive 15-3, while the Cyclones have improved to a more modest 8-10.
The Houston squad started off trailing with only 21 points in the first half compared to Iowa State's 31. However, they rallied back in the second half with an additional 32 points but fell short by just four points as time expired. Despite their valiant effort and a stronger second-half performance, it wasn't enough to secure victory on this occasion.
Houston's defensive efforts were notable as they amassed five blocks and seven steals during the game. Their offensive play was marked by eight assists and tenacious rebounding that led to ten second-chance points; however, their field goal percentage was just underwhelming at thirty-eight percent overall.
A standout statistic for Houston was their fifty percent success rate from two-point range on twenty-four attempts which contributed significantly to their total score of fifty-three points. They also managed eighteen points within the paint which showcased their ability to penetrate Iowa State's defense effectively.
On the other hand, Iowa State capitalized on turnovers scoring seventeen points off Houston's sixteen turnovers while also making eighteen free throws at an impressive eighty-two percent accuracy rate – a stark contrast to Houston’s sixty-seven percent from twelve attempts.
The Cyclones' assist-to-turnover ratio stood out as well with fourteen assists over twelve turnovers compared to Houston’s less efficient ratio of eight assists over sixteen turnovers. This aspect of ball handling proved crucial in such a closely contested match where every possession counted.
Looking ahead for fans of The Cougars: they will be visiting Schollmaier Arena for an encounter against TCU Horned Frogs scheduled on January 13th at 5:00 PM Central Time Zone. This game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN channel two hundred six for those wishing to follow along from afar or unable to attend in person.