Sports

Cougars try to get on a roll

UH faces So. Florida with momentum on its side

By Emily Davis
The Daily Cougar

Louis Truscottis last-second layup gave UH a thrilling, come-from-behind 76-75 victory at Southern Miss on Saturday, but only one thing made his heroics possible: defense.

"Defense is extremely important if we expect to win games," said UH assistant coach Brian Hecker. "We make playing in general difficult for our opponents and are always in the game."

Allen Cernosek/The Daily Cougar
 

The fifth-place Cougars (4-11, 2-2 in Conference USA) shut down the seventh-place Golden Eagles with 29 defensive rebounds, one blocked shot and four steals.

The Cougars, who have the sixth-best scoring defense in C-USA, will need more of the same when they take on the South Florida Bulls at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

And with the teamis recent success (two out of three C-USA victories), Hecker is confident the Cougars will have a big home-court advantage.

"We expect a lot of support from the fans since we are winning," he said. "With conference play in full swing, we have to rely on home wins."

But Hecker is not the only Cougar with a little more spring in his step this week. Truscott, named C-USA Player of the Week after his 19-point, 18-rebound performance Saturday, has raised his game a notch in conference play. He averaged 19.5 points and 13.5 rebounds against USM and Memphis.

"I just try to get to my position quickly and be ready for the pass," the 6-6 forward said. "The team works to get the ball to where it needs to be, and I work to be there."

Truscott has been getting plenty of help from sophomore guard Andre Owens, who is averaging 19.2 points per game, the fifth best in C-USA.

"I just practice and do my best to carry the team," he said. "Itis my goal to lead the league in every category, so I work hard to accomplish that."

And the Cougars found a surprising hero in freshman guard Cederic Hensley against Southern Miss. The 6-3 Texas City native had 16 points in 31 minutes on Saturday.

"(Hensley) has been in and out of the starting lineup this season," Hecker said. "He is responding well to an increase in his playing time, and we look for good things from him against South Florida."

The Bulls (9-7, 2-3) have dipped to the No. 9 position after falling in double overtime to East Carolina 68-62 on Saturday.

South Florida, which played against East Carolina without injured top scorer Will McDonald, will run a 1-3-1 mid-court trap on Wednesday, Hecker said.

"Weive been practicing this week on executing our game against this type of defense," Hecker said. "It tends to wear a team down, so we need to be ready for it."

After Wednesdayis game, UH will face Texas Christian on Saturday in the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Dallas before returning home for more C-USA action against Tulane on Tuesday.

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