Terrance Arceneaux also made a significant impact for Houston, adding 13 points, while Milos Uzan came close to a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.
Tae Davis led the charge for Notre Dame, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds, and Braeden Shrewsberry contributed 16 points for the Irish.
Both teams entered this game following disappointing overtime losses from the previous day, with Houston narrowly falling to No. 9 Alabama 85-80 and Notre Dame losing a tight contest 85-84 against Rutgers.
The effects of the back-to-back games became evident in the second half. Notre Dame’s shooting percentage plummeted from 50% in the first half to just 31% in the second, while Houston saw a similar decline, dropping from an impressive 58.6% to 32.3%.
Despite moments of scoring struggles for both teams, Houston managed to maintain a slight edge. They only faced a tie for 42 seconds throughout the game, consistently holding the lead.
Key takeaways include Houston’s LJ Cryer, who had an impressive career-high of 30 points in their last outing against Alabama, but was limited to only six points on 2 of 11 shooting against Notre Dame. Nonetheless, the Cougars were able to lean on their depth to secure the win.
For Notre Dame, the inability to bounce back from previous performances hindered their efforts. Matt Allocco had a stellar game previously with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against Rutgers but could only muster eight points, five rebounds, and four assists against Houston.
A pivotal moment came when Notre Dame managed to cut down a 10-point deficit to just one point. However, a four-minute scoring drought allowed Houston to reclaim control of the game.
A notable statistic from the matchup is that Houston’s bench outscored Notre Dame’s bench 19-0, showcasing the Cougars’ depth advantage.
Looking ahead, Houston is set to face San Diego State in the third-place game on Saturday, while Notre Dame will take on No. 21 Creighton in the battle for seventh place.