The No. 7 Houston Cougars opened the 2023-24 basketball season against the University of Louisiana Monroe in dominant fashion, winning 84-31.
The 31 points allowed by UH is the third-fewest in school history and fewest since 1951.
“Defense is our star,” Sampson said. We work so hard on that, and that’s the hardest part of the game to teach. It requires so much selflessness.”
The Cougars started the first half with their physical brand of basketball imposing their will defensively, which allowed them to create buckets offensively. Junior forward Ja’vier Francis scored Houston’s first points of the season, bringing energy to a spirited crowd at the Fertitta Center.