Sports

Truscott bangs his way to C-USA POW

Cougar Sports Staff

It was his layup with four seconds left to play that gave the Cougars their fourth win of the season. Though late-game heroics got him noticed Saturday night, his play throughout the week earned senior forward Louis Truscott the Conference USA Player of the Week award.

UH was 1-1 against Southern Miss and Memphis, beating the Golden Eagles 76-75 on Saturday but losing to the Tigers 77-66 on Wednesday. But Truscott was "Mr. Consistency" as the Cougarsi main man averaged 19.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and a 55 percent field goal percentage for the two games.

The two-game stretch included a 20-point performance against the Tigers -- the third time Truscott has broken the 20-point mark this season. As good as that performance was, he followed it up with perhaps his best game of the season, one that couldnit have come at a better time for the Cougars.

UH was clinging to the lead against the Golden Eagles and nearly gave it up with 23 seconds remaining. Down by one at 75-74 with four seconds to go, Truscott took an underneath pass and converted for the win -- UHis first on the road this season. It was the most important play of the night, but the rest of the game wasnit that shabby either.

Truscott poured in 19 points off 8-of-14 shooting and banged the boards for 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds are his second-highest career total.

He has gotten 18 boards three times this year and leads C-USA with 12.3 rebounds per game. He also leads the conference with 10 double-doubles this season.

The Cougars (4-11, 3-2 in C-USA) host C-USA rival South Florida (9-7, 2-3 in C-USA) at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The game may be televised as part of ESPN Plus. USF is coming off a 68-62 double-overtime loss against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. The Bulls were out-rebounded 71-42.

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