Houston knocks off UAB, marches into NCAA Tournament 2nd round

There was plenty for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson to like Friday night when his Cougars rolled to an 82-68 victory against UAB in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

• There was the 18-point lead (34-16) in the first half that got everything started. UAB rallied to within nine by halftime and seven shortly after intermission, but the Blazers (27-8) crawled no closer while missing 20 of 30 shots in the second half.

• There was the Cougars’ suffocating defense in the second half that Sampson talked about immediately, unprompted, during his post-game news conference. “I thought we were outstanding in just about every facet,” he said, listing them one by one. “Our ball screen coverages, side pick-and-roll, mid pick-and-roll, our shot contest, defensive rebounding.”

• Then, there was the 30th victory — a benchmark usually reached by only the nation’s finest teams — in 35 games. Houston will seek No. 31 at 12:10 p.m. Sunday in a second-round game against Illinois. At stake will be a berth in the Sweet 16.

“This team is 30-5,” Sampson said, almost as if he didn’t believe it. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a team I’m as proud of as this bunch for everything that they’ve had to overcome.”

Houston has played much of the season without Marcus Sasser (toe injury) and Tramon Mark (shoulder surgery), key contributors toward the Cougars’ Final Four run last year. Sasser played in only 11 games this season, but still leads the team in average points per game (17.7). Mark was averaging 10.1 points per game at the time of his surgery.

Sampson is proud of how his team has grown this season while refusing to use the injuries to important players as an excuse.

“I’m fortunate that I have high-character kids, big-time high-character kids,” he said. “Our discipline problem in our program is somebody’s cell phone goes off in the film session. We had one (Thursday) night. First time all year. Of course, it was a freshman.

“But just proud of this group. Good we get to stay together for another game, and we’ll see how that one goes.”

Kyler Edwards, a transfer from Texas Tech, led the Cougars with 25 points and seven rebounds. He shot 75% (6 of 8) from beyond the 3-point arc.

Asked by a reporter when he knew his shot was working, his answer was “always.”

“Well, I like to stay confident, so I always think my shot is going,” he said. “So, my teammates look for me a lot because they know I can shoot. So, credit to them and the team looking for me.”

Edwards’ experience in difficult situations has carried over to his first season with Houston. He scored 12 points in Texas Tech’s loss to Virginia in the 2019 national championship game.

Fabian White Jr., who was part of Houston’s 2021 Final Four team, added 14 points and six rebounds Friday. He said the team was not shaken by UAB’s rally.

“We just have a lot of veterans,” he said, “so we don’t get too high, too low. And we know they’re a good team, so they are going to get on a run eventually.

“So, we just have to stay even keel and just defend like we’ve been doing.”

Added Edwards: “When we get tired, it’s not like we just give up and lay down. I think we can push through that and push through adversity.”

Sampson has been a head coach at five schools, but he is especially enjoying his eighth season with Houston.

“Our team is tough,” he said. “We have weaknesses. We’re not the prettiest team. We’re not the best team, and that’s OK.

“I just want our kids to be the best they can be. And as long as the music is playing, our kids get to keep playing, I feel lucky. Because I really do, you know, enjoy coaching this team.

“If we lose … I’ll be sad we lose, but I’ll be more sad that I don’t get to coach this bunch.”