HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston freshman forward Jarace Walker had a career-high 25 points and seven rebounds, and No. 3 Houston rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat Cincinnati, 75-69, inside the Fertitta Center on Saturday.
Walker, who scored 13 points in the second half, was 10-of-14 from the field.
''I was just feeling good tonight,'' Walker said. ''The ball was feeling good off my fingertips. I felt like everything was kind of falling. I feel like I still made the right plays. Just finding my teammates as well.
''I felt like I was real comfortable out there tonight, real confident as well.''
Junior forward J'Wan Roberts added 14 points and six rebounds, andjunior point Jamal Shead scored 13 points for Houston (20-2, 8-1 American Athletic Conference).
''Jamal's will to win equals his refusal to lose,'' said Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, who became the only coach in program history to lead the Cougars to eight consecutive 20-win seasons. ''Jarace is just getting more comfortable and more confident, and you can see it in the things we do in practice.''
Houston has won at least 20 games in eight straight seasons under Sampson. The Cougars shot 57%, but were just 5 of 17 on 3-pointers.
''We executed at a really, really high level tonight,'' Sampson said. ''Whatever was called, we executed. The ball moved, probably got a little sticky in the first half. We had some clean looks. ... Our kids kept fighting. When you get down, you don't give in.''
Landers Nolley II had 24 points, including si 3-pointers. Viktor Lakhin added 15 points and David DeJulius had 14 points and nine assists for Cincinnati (14-8, 5-4). The Bearcats shot 44%, including 11 of 27 on 3-pointers.
Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said Nolley missed the last two days of practice with an injury.
''He's one of the best players in the country,'' Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said of Nolley. ''And not just his ability, but his approach, his toughness.
''He's really hurt. I did not expect him to go tonight. And he finds a way to tough through it and performs like that. I think the world of him, and he's just getting better and better. He's a tougher kid than I think anybody has ever given him credit for.''
Trailing 60-49 with 11 1/2 minutes remaining, the Cougars used a 20-4 run to take a five-point lead - capped by Roberts' dunk with 2:49 remaining. But the Bearcats responded with five straight points to tie it at 69 on a 3-pointer by DeJulius with 1:19 left.
Houston answered with a step-back jumper from Shead with 47 seconds to give the Cougars a two-point lead.
After Cincinnati was whistled for a shot clock violation, Shead made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to put Houston up 73-69. On the other end, Lakhin was whistled for goaltending with 5 seconds left.
''We had some failed execution,'' Nolley said of the shot clock violation. ''It was good defense; it was good offense. We had little things that we failed at that led to that shot clock violation.''
Cincinnati used a 16-0 run to jump out to a 19-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Jeremiah Davenport with 13 minutes remaining. It was the largest deficit for Houston this season. The Bearcats took a 43-36 lead into the half on a halfcourt 3 by Mika Adams-Woods at the buzzer.
The Bearcats struggled in the second half, shooting 30% and making just three of 15 3-point attempts.
Houston outrebounded Cincinnati 35-27 and held a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint.
BIG PICTURE
Cincinnati: The Bearcats missed a chance at a marquee win. Cincinnati last beat a top 3-ranked team on March 9, 2012 (No. 2 Syracuse, 71-68).
Houston: The Cougars have not lost consecutive home games since January 2017. ... Houston has won eight straight over the Bearcats. ... Houston's struggles from the free-throw line continued, finishing 10 of 16.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars open the month of February with a road contest at Wichita State at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, inside Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan. That game will air on ESPN2.
• The Cougars then meet Temple at 5 p.m. (CST), Sunday, Feb. 5, inside the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. That game can be seen on ESPN.
• The Cougars look to split the regular-season series against falling against the Owls on Jan. 22 inside the Fertitta Center in Houston.
• Houston faces Tulsa at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, inside the Fertitta Center in a game played on ESPN+.
•The Cougars took an 89-50 win over the Golden Hurricane in Tulsa, Okla., on Dec. 28, to open the American Athletic Conference season.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
BUY 2022-23 TICKETS
Fans may purchase single-game tickets for the Cougars' 18 regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center. Supplies are limited, and fans are encouraged to purchase soon before they run out.
To purchase single-game tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here any time.
For the third straight season, the Cougars sold out of their season tickets for home games inside the Fertitta Center.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets in 2022-23 are invited to join the team's 2023-24 Wait List as the Cougars prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. To join the 2023-24 season tickets Wait List, fans can click here.
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Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
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