Cowboys fall 83-44 to #3 Houston

HOUSTON – Robert Berze led McNeese by 13 points, but third-ranked Houston was too strong for the Cowboys as the Cougars won 83-44 on Wednesday night.

Berze scored 11 of those 13 points in the final 5:16 of the game as McNeese (3-10) scored on his final five possessions. Three of his four field goals in that span came from beyond the three-point arc. Christian Shumate added 10 points with four rebounds and three assists.

Houston (110-1) was led in scoring by Ja’Vie Francis with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Emanuel Sharp added 18 and Marcus Sasser 17.

The Cougars dominated the glass with a 43-22 advantage in rebounds.

McNeese kept things close for the first 10 minutes of the game, trailing just 14-9 at the 10:53 mark after a Shumate dunk. From that point on, the Cougars outscored the Cowboys 28-10 to take a 42-19 halftime lead.

The Cougars came out of the break on fire, going on a 21-2 run in the first eight minutes of the second half to make it 63-21. Terrance Arceneaux’s dunk gave Houston its biggest lead of the night at 75-26. McNeese beat Houston in the final 5:40 with a difference of 18-8.

The Cowboys next begin Southland Conference play Dec. 31 at Lamar.

Game statistics:

FG Shooting: McNeese 18-49 (37%), Houston 32-61 (52%)
3FG Shooting: McNeese 6-24 (25%), Houston 14-33 (42%)
FT Shooting: McNeese 2-5 (40%), Houston 5-10 (50%)
Rebounds: McNeese 22, Houston 43
Assists: McNeese 10, Houston 23
Stocks: McNeese9, Houston 8
Blocks: McNeese 1, Houston 2
Matches: McNeese16, Houston 12