Houston Cougars: Team earns their first NCAA Tourney win in 34 years

The Houston Cougars took on the San Diego Aztecs in the first round of the NCAA Tourney and luckily they were able to prevail 67-65 over their opponent. It marks the first time since 1984 that they’ve won a tournament game. It’s a long time coming. Let’s take a look at what went down.

You should be proud of the Houston Cougars, not only for the gritty, in-your-face style of play they have but for their mindset feeling they can go out and beat anybody each and every night. This team certainly enamored a level of confidence that I haven’t seen in quite some time.

It’s not that this team had cocky sense of themselves but the handled things as if they’ve been down this road before, despite the little postseason experience this team has had over the past decade. But Kelvin Sampson has been there and he has motivated this group of young men that they can excel to the utmost if they put their mind to it.

From the opening tip that the team won, the Houston Cougars kept the pace to a minimum with their team striking at the right moment. It was an inspiring exhibition of defensive play, from the likes that I haven’t seen in quite some time from a Houston Cougars basketball team.

There was a lot of back-and-forth in the early goings, particularly Malik Pope‘s bone-crunching dunk after wide-striding in the paint just three minutes into the game. I’m sure the goal for him was to set the tone for the game as well as for his fellow teammates but it didn’t work.

The Houston Cougars kept grinding away and things remains close. The tide started to turn after a 6-0 run completed by a Rob Gray layup with 4:01 left in the half. But after Pope went 1-for-2 at the line off a foul committed by Armoni Brooks, the Coogs went on another 6-0 run.

This was capped off by a top-of-the-key Gray three-pointer to close out the half with Houston leading San Diego State 39-29.

The Coogs came out with the same intensity in the second half, elevating themselves to their largest lead of the game — 13 points — with a 47-34 advantage over the Aztecs with 15:40 left in the 2nd half. Things had appeared as if the Coogs were going to cruise to a win but Jalen McDaniels and Trey Krell began to start drawing an immense amount of fouls, completing a 12-5 run with 10:48 left to go.

Gray was able to stop the bleeding with a jumper but Pope answered with one of his own, keeping the Aztecs within five with 10:17 left in the game. But as tight as the game was, I knew that the Coogs still had control and that they were going to likely hold on to win.

But it was the last minute of the game that had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. The Coogs led the Aztecs 62-59 with 1:19 left and after a Gray miss from the three-point line, McDaniels grabbed the rebound to get the ball to Devin Watson at the top of the key for a three to tie the game at 62-all with 1:08 left.

But it gets better…

After the Coogs got the ball back, Gray answered with a three-ball of his own to put the team back up by three. Did you noticed that there’s a pattern here? It’s all about the three and it’s what led this team to a victory. It was certainly a duel between Gray and Watson in those final moments but it was the final play that will put Gray in a notable spot in Coogs’ basketball history.

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With two seconds left, Gray had the ball in his hands and after going left, he started to drive right, deep into the paint with the towering Pope ready to block his shot. But Gray quickly went through a series of incredible pump fakes mid-air — I’m not sure if there’s a way to coin a phrase for what he just did– to finally go to back to his right for the scoop-in to put the Coogs up for good 67-65 with 1.1 seconds left.

After an Aztecs timeout, the Coogs did a remarkable job defending the three, preventing Trey Kell from getting a good shot and effectively sealing their fate.

It was an absolutely terrific ending to the game that wasn’t necessarily the prettiest of sorts. But damn it, I’ll take the win and the historical aspect that has come with it. FIRST TOURNEY WIN IN 34 YEARS. LET THAT SINK IN. I’m sure Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Elvin Hayes are proud of their efforts as I.

Gray finished up with a career-high, leading all scores with 39 points and eight rebounds off 12-for-25 shooting. There was little offense to be found outside of Gray with Devin Davis and Corey Davis Jr. each chipping in nine points. Devin Davis also led the team in rebounds with nine as well.

McDaniels led the Aztecs with 18 points and nine rebounds while Pope doubled-doubled his way with 11/11.

Next: Why you should be stoked the Coogs are dancing

It’s on to the next one ladies and gents! They’ll take on the winner of the Michigan/Montana first-round bracket this Saturday with the time yet to be determined this Saturday.

GO COOGS!

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