Josh Carlton recorded a double-double while Fabian White Jr. chipped in 11 points despite persistent foul trouble as the seventh-ranked Houston Cougars extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 63-49 conference road victory over the UCF Knights in Orlando.
Carlton paired 13 points with 15 rebounds and was a steadying force down the stretch for the Cougars (18-2, 7-0 American), who labored offensively throughout the second half.
Houston made headway on the offensive glass with 12 offensive boards and received two timely 3-pointers from Taze Moore after UCF (12-7, 4-5) cut a 15-point deficit to 47-43 with 7:04 left.
Darin Green Jr. led the Knights with 14 points while Darius Perry added 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. Perry was instrumental in helping the Knights chip away at what was a 40-25 deficit early in the second half, teaming with Cheikh Mbacke Diong (eight points) to fuel the comeback.
But the Knights shot just 34.6 percent and committed 13 turnovers that Houston converted into 21 points. Kyler Edwards paced the Cougars with 17 points while grabbing seven rebounds.
Green started 3-for-3 from behind the arc while the Cougars struggled to find their rhythm. But Houston quickly erased an early nine-point deficit, doing so behind Edwards’ marksmanship.
Edwards gave the Cougars their first field goal with a 3-pointer at the 14:31 mark and his 3 with 11:40 left delivered Houston its first lead at 12-11. When Edwards answered a Jamille Reynolds dunk with a transition 3-pointer, the Cougars suddenly discovered a successful plan of attack.
Houston later forged a 13-0 run capped by a Jamal Shead layup that followed three offensive rebounds on one trip for the Cougars. Shead added a pair of free throws with two seconds left as Houston carried a 34-23 lead into the intermission.
Edwards scored 13 points and drilled four 3s in the opening half while UCF finished 0-for-9 from behind the arc, excluding the hot start from Green.
–Field Level Media
