Junior guard Damyean Dotson was one of only three Cougars to reach double digits against Georgia Tech, with 14 points. | File photo/The Cougar
The Cougars opened up their National Invitational Tournament with a game against the Georgia Institute of Technology on Wednesday night, but bounced in the first round as they lost 81-62.
After keeping it close in the first half, UH saw Georgia Tech power past them in the second, as they outscored the Cougars, 40-30.
Both the Cougars and the Yellow Jackets opened the game shooting well, with senior forward Devonta Pollard leading the way for UH. But toward the end of the first half, the Cougars went a bit cold as the Jackets took a nine-point lead into the break.
The second half didn’t start well for UH either as Georgia Tech opened the second frame on a 6-0 run. The Cougars didn’t make their first basket until three minutes into the half.
Despite both Pollard and junior guard Damyean Dotson contributing on offense, with 21 and 14 points respectively. Sophomore guard and leading scorer Rob Gray, Jr. had a rough game from the field, as well as the rest of the team, who combined to shoot just 31 percent from the field.
Gray added just nine points on offense, while the rest of the Cougars combined for 18 points.
The Yellow Jackets also shot 10.1 percent better than the Cougars, as UH managed just 42.4 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from three, while Georgia Tech shot 52.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.
The game was very physical and scrappy between the two teams, with bodying play in the post and players from both teams diving on the floor for loose balls. UH forced 11 turnovers with five steals, while surrendering eight turnovers themselves.
The Cougars lost the battle in the paint, however, as Georgia Tech outrebounded UH, 40 to 25, with 13 of those rebounds coming on the offensive side of the court.
With the loss, the Cougars’ season is over. UH ends the year with a 22-10 record, and had a 10-win improvement in the regular season under head coach Kelvin Sampson.
