Houston forward Chase McCarty (24) reaches for the net during the first half of a University of Houston basketball game against La Salle University on November 3, 2026, at the Fertitta Center in Houston. | Matthew Guzman/The Cougar
The No.10 Houston Cougars took control Sunday Night in an early-season victory against the California Golden Bears with a final score of 86 – 68 in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada.
Houston entered the matchup following a convincing 94-55 victory over La Salle in its season opener. Entering the matchup at an undefeated 2-0, the Golden Bears’ high-powered perimeter shooting was limited by a gritty defensive outing by the Cougars.
Houston established its presence early, taking a 43-32 lead into halftime, showcasing their defensive identity by tallying 14 steals and seven blocks as a team, as well as capitalizing on mistakes with a notable 22 points off of turnovers.
The overall defensive pressure translated into offensive opportunities, allowing Houston to dictate tempo and prevent California from finding a rhythm. Head coach Kelvin Sampson outlined defensive improvement as a major goal this season after the opener.
“Our defense was outstanding tonight. We’ve had three opportunities to play defense and we’ll keep getting better,” Sampson said, according to Houston Athletics.
Senior guard Dedan Thomas Jr. led the way for the Cougars with a 20-point, eight-assist night, highlighting his contributions as both a scorer and facilitator.
“That’s what point guards do in our system. They make the simple pass,” Sampson said after the win against La Salle.
Other notable Cougar performances included senior forward Joseph Tugler with 16 points and four blocks and senior forward Delrecco Gillespie with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Houston continued to build on its lead after halftime, not allowing a large Golden Bear run throughout. The Cougars showcased a little bit of everything, including defensive stops, transition opportunities and highly efficient scoring at a 52.2% clip over the course of the game to maintain control.
The performance represented another impressive early-season showing for coach Sampson, who is now entering his 13th season with notable expectations following several successful campaigns in a row.
The Cougars will look to carry their momentum into their upcoming game against Jacksonville State on Wednesday, November 11th at the Fertitta Center.
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