HOUSTON — In an impressive performance, Joseph Tugler contributed 17 points off the bench, while Emanuel Sharp added 16 points, leading the No. 7 Houston Cougars to an 80-44 victory over Hofstra on Friday night.
Tugler displayed perfect shooting, hitting all six attempts from the floor, and Sharp was flawless from beyond the arc, making all five of his 3-point attempts. Houston (3-1) demonstrated its offensive prowess by shooting 47% overall, including an impressive 50% (12 of 24) from 3-point range. Terrance Arceneaux also made a significant impact off the bench with 12 points, helping the Cougars extend their remarkable home winning streak to 25 games.
The Cougars exhibited strong team play, racking up 20 assists on their 29 successful field goals throughout the night.
On the other side, Cruz Davis led Hofstra (4-2) with 18 points, but the team struggled, suffering their second consecutive loss. They managed only 31% shooting from the field and hit 8 of 25 attempts from 3-point range.
Key observations indicated that Hofstra faced challenges coping with Houston’s superior size and athleticism, particularly in the early stages of the game. The Pride appeared to rely too heavily on outside shooting in the first half, making only 4 of 13 from beyond the arc. Furthermore, they went nearly seven minutes without scoring, allowing Houston to establish a commanding 48-18 lead at halftime.
For Houston, the bench’s performance was a highlight, as they significantly increased their scoring output, contributing a total of 44 points, with 29 of those coming in the first half alone.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Houston, leading 7-6 just four minutes into the match, embarked on a dominant 20-4 run. This surge culminated in a 3-pointer from Tugler, extending their lead to 17 points with 8.5 minutes left in the half. Tugler contributed eight points during this significant stretch.
One notable statistic from the game was Houston’s ability to force Hofstra into 15 turnovers, while committing only four themselves, with a strong discipline reflected in just one turnover during the first half.
Looking ahead, Houston is set to travel to Las Vegas for a showdown against No. 8 Alabama in the Players Era Tournament on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hofstra will take on Rice on November 29 as part of the Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.