Houston's Hot Start Takes Down ECU

Wednesday, January 11

Greenville, N.C.

6 p.m.

East Carolina University

9-9,1-4AAC

Houston

13-4,4-1AAC

Team	1	2	F
Houston	47	27	74
East Carolina	25	33	58

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

January 11, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Rob Gray scored 19 points, Armoni Brooks had 15 and Houston took control early and defeated East Carolina 74-58 on Wednesday night.

Wes Van Beck added 13 points on a perfect night of shooting and Damyean Dotson has 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (13-4, 4-1 American).

Gray had 13 points, Brooks -- who matched his career high- and Dotson, each had 12 points in the first half when Houston rolled to a 47-25 lead. The Cougars shot 54.5 percent (18 of 33) and were a blistering 11 of 16 from 3-point range. All of Dotson's points came on 3-pointers.

Houston scored the first nine points of the game on 3s and made its first six. Van Beck, Gray and Brooks each finished with three treys and Van Beck added a shot inside the arc and a pair of free throws.

East Carolina (9-8, 1-4), which lost its fourth straight, shot 29 percent in the first half, going 1 of 11 from 3-point range. The Pirates finished 3 of 22 behind the arc but outscored Houston 21-5 from the foul line.

Kentrell Barkley had 13 points for East Carolina and Caleb White and Andre Washington 12 each with Washington grabbing 11 rebounds.

IT'S A GAME OF RUNS

Houston scored the game's first nine points as Gray made consecutive 3s before Dotson buried a third. Vanbeck added a fourth 3 in the opening five minutes and the Cougars pushed ahead by 10.
After ECU had closed within five, 14-9, the Cougars went on a 12-4 run, including seven unanswered, to double the Pirates at 26-13. Houston's lead never dipped below double figures the remainder of the game.
The Cougars stretched their lead to 18 and held ECU scoreless for 4:50 until Washington made two free throws with 57 seconds left in the half. Houston outscored the Pirates 15-4 in the final 8:12 of the first half and led 47-25 at intermission.
ECU opened the second half on a 13-7 run to pull within 16, 54-38, with 11:44 remaining.
White's 3-pointer with 9:18 to play brought the Pirates within 14, 59-45. Houston stretched its lead back out to 21 with 3:54 remaining before East Carolina scored seven straight to get back within 14, 72-58, with 1:27 to play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Houston made its first seven 3s and started the game 10-of-11 from the field. The Cougars shot 56.5 percent (13-23) from outside the arc and 40.5 percent (15-37) inside it.
The Pirates outscored Houston by 16 at the free throw line, but were outscored by 30 from 3.
ECU out-rebounded a conference opponent for the first time this season.
ECU has shot over 75 percent at the free throw line in consecutive games after shooting less than 40 percent in each of the two previous games.
Washington posted his third double-double of the season.
White moved into a tie with former Pirate Sam Hinnant for third-place on the school's career 3-point field goals made list with 221. White made multiple 3s in a game for the first time since Dec. 20 against UNCW.
B.J. Tyson played just 22 minutes, but was on the bench for the final 6:44 due to injury.

QUOTABLE

"I give Houston credit, they were terrific tonight shooting the basketball… boy did they shoot it well from 3. That was a good start of the game as I've seen in a long time. That's the strength of their team, and when they shoot it like that they're tough to beat." – ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo

NEXT TIP-OFF

East Carolina continues American Athletic Conference play Sunday against Cincinnati. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.