Sports
 

UH looks to control Mavericks

By Emily Davis
The Daily Cougar

As the rain clouds dissipated over Houston on Wednesday night, so did the Cougarsi fear of continuing a winless season. UH (1-3) put the Texas-El Paso Miners to bed with a 56-47 victory in Hofheinz Pavilion.

But there will be no rest for the weary as the Cougars look ahead to another home game against the Texas-Arlington Mavericks at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz ? but with the season just beginning, the agile Cougar athletes are not expected to feel the effects of fatigue.

"We are always making adjustments early in the season," assistant coach Brian Hecker said. "Making changes is what moves us forward as a team."

Looking to do some serious moving on Saturday will be senior Louis Truscott, who led the Cougars with 13 points and five rebounds against UTEP. The 6-7 forward was a third-team All-Conference USA player and had 13 double-double performances last season.

"We look to (Truscott) to give our team the experience and confidence it needs in tough situations," Hecker said.

Saturdayis game will highlight more of the Malone-and-Stockton like relationship between Truscott and sophomore guard Andre Owens.

Owens was second for UH with 12 points and dished out the team high of four assists against the Miners in Wednesdayis game.

"I concentrate on taking care of my teammates first," Owens said. "My (statistics) come later."

Freshman Dwight Jones II has been making waves for the Cougars and will look to add strong offense against the Mavericks. The former Klein High School star added eight points and two rebounds in Wednesdayis game.

"We look to our younger players for help," Hecker said. "They have been put in some difficult situations and have been making daily improvements."

UTA (2-3) is hot off of an 81-65 win over Texas Wesleyan last weekend and currently trails the Cougars 4-0 in the overall series record.

Leading the Mavericks into Saturdayis game will be newcomer Keith Howell. The 6-1 junior leads UTA this season with 26 points and 12 assists.

Returning for another year of Maverick basketball is junior Derrick Obasohan, who has 25 points and 19 rebounds for the season and will look to add strong defense against the Cougars.

After Saturdayis game, UH will travel to San Marcos on Monday to take on Southwest Texas before returning home on Dec. 21 to play San Diego State following a two-week break.

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