Head coach Kelvin Sampson and his squad got their season off to a hot start with an impressive victory over Morgan State Friday. | File Photo/The Cougar
UH athletics stayed busy over the weekend as football, men’s basketball and volleyball teams all saw action.
Football and men’s basketball enjoyed the thrills of victory while the volleyball team continued to struggle down the stretch of their season.
Football
The Cougars improved to 8-2 on the season, following a decisive 30-18 victory over the Tulane University Green Wave Saturday afternoon at TDECU Stadium.
Behind senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr.’s three touchdowns, the Cougars eclipsed 30 points for the ninth time this season, despite being outgained by Tulane, 341-287, in yardage.
Freshman punter Dane Roy earned the American Athletic Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week following a career-high 11-punt performance with six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
After a game where both Ward and junior Kyle Postma sustained injuries, the Cougars will look to make a quick recovery before they host No. 3 Louisville Cardinals on Thursday night.
Men’s basketball
Led by junior guard Rob Gray Jr.’s 22 points, the Cougars (1-0) started the season off with a 93-52 victory over Morgan State University Friday night at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Gray led all scorers while junior forward Devin Davis earned a double-double in his first game as a Cougar with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cougars got off to a quick start, scoring the first 11 points and taking an early 28-5 lead and never looked back.
Houston saw four players reach double-digit scoring and shot over 50 percent as a team as senior forward Danrad “Chicken” Knowles (14) and redshirt senior guard Damyean Dotson (13) joined Gray and Davis.
Basketball will return to exhibition play against Angelo State University 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Volleyball
Looking for their first conference win of the season, the Cougars (5-22, 0-16) lost in heartbreaking fashion to the University of Memphis, 3-2 (13-25, 25-18, 25-16, 19-25, 12-15), Sunday afternoon at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
Despite two Cougars scoring double-doubles, the team was unable to put the Tigers away after taking an early 2-1 lead.
After hitting above .340 in both the second and third sets, the Cougars were held to just 0.91 hitting percentage in the fourth and fifth sets.
Junior setter Keandra McCardell picked up her fourth consecutive double-double with 26 assists and 16 digs. Junior Sarah Afflerbaugh added her fourth of the season with 13 kills and 15 digs.
Volleyball will continue their search for the elusive first win of the conference season Thursday when they take on East Carolina University from Greenville, North Carolina.
