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Volume 68, Issue 88,
Tuesday, January 4, 2003
Sports Coogs credit foul shots Truscott, Sidney make clutch shots late in games By Emily Davis
UH has discovered the secret to staying alive in Conference USA games -- clutch free throws. Senior Louis Truscott hit two of his season-high 21 points from the foul line with 38 seconds to play while teammate Jarrett Sidney put the finishing touches on a 61-56 decision over Texas Christian on Saturday with two foul shots of his own with less than a second left in the game.
Top: Senior guard Jarrett Sidneyis 10 points against Texas Christian — and his two free throws late in the game — were instrumental in the Cougarsi 61-56 win. It was the third consecutive win for UH (6-11, 4-2 in Conference USA). Photo by Brian Viney/The Daily Cougar
Free throws are always a very important part of the game," Truscott said. "Thatis something we always focus on." UH, which has the third-best free-throw percentage (.750) in the conference, also defeated South Florida 59-57 on Wednesday with last-second foul shots from Truscott. So life looks pretty good right now for Cougars, who are coasting on a three-game Conference-USA winning streak and are tied with Alabama-Birmingham for first place in the National Division. "We want wins to become a habit for us," head coach Ray McCallum said. "We have to be able to finish off a game and come out on top."
Bottom: Senior forward Louis Truscottis been grabbing every rebound he can lay his hands on throughout the season. Truscott and the Cougars will look to extend their winning streak to four when they host Tulane at 7:30 p.m. today. Photo by Brian Viney/The Daily Cougar
Coming out on top is something the Cougars (6-11, 4-2 in C-USA) are becoming more and more familiar with. Truscott continues to lead the league with 12 double-doubles and is the No. 1 rebounder in the conference, while sophomore Andre Owens, continues to rank among C-USAis leading scorers, averaging 17.5 points per game (ninth). If they want to stay on top, the Cougars will have to defend their turf against Tulane at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hofheinz Pavilion. "It is extremely important to get a win at home," assistant coach Brian Hecker said. "That is where our support is." Fan support wonit be the only thing the Cougars can count on Tuesday. Freshman Cedric Hensley and senior Jeremee McGuire both came off the bench to make vital plays for UH on Saturday, including a 3-pointer from Hensley to end a three-minute scoring slump for the Cougars. The Green Wave (9-10, 2-4) is coming off a 67-56 victory over East Carolina, although they made just 42.3 percent of their shots, which included 10 3-pointers. On defense, Tulane held the Pirates to just 23-of-61 shooting. Senior Brandon Spann scored a season high 20 points for Tulane in last weekis game and connected on six 3-pointers to give his team its second straight win. Although the Green Wave has the worst defense in the conference, based on points given up, the importance of Tuesdayis game is not lost on UH. "We play every game with equal importance," McCallum said. "We will practice hard and be ready." It wonit take much to get ready for the Cougarsi next foe -- No. 8 Louisville. UH hosts the Cardinals at 8 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion in a game to be nationally televised on ESPN. UH legend Guy V. Lewis will be honored during halftime. The Cougars will face Charlotte on Feb. 12. Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu |
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