March Madness 2022: Kyler Edwards scores 25 to power Houston past UAB in NCAA opener

Houston seems like an issue once more.

A Closing 4 group a yr in the past, the Cougars performed like a gaggle able to making one other deep run this March as they opened the NCAA Event with an 82-68 win over UAB on Friday night time.

Offensively, Houston can gentle up the scoreboard with highlight-reel performs. Defensively, these Cougars are fairly ferocious cats.

“Their popularity precedes them,” UAB coach Andy Kennedy mentioned. “They offer you nothing straightforward. They’re tenacious off the glass. They’re disruptive.”

They’re transferring on.

Kyler Edwards scored 25 factors, Fabian White Jr. added 14 and Houston’s protection clamped down within the second half to make issues even more durable on UAB’s main scorer, Jordan “Jelly” Walker, who made 1 of 10 3-pointers.

Edwards, who performed three years at Texas Tech earlier than transferring to Houston this season, made six 3-pointers — the final an exclamation level within the remaining minute — and managed the quick tempo together with Jamal Shead, who had seven assists.

The Cougars (30-5) superior within the South Area and can play fourth-seeded Illinois on Sunday for a spot within the Candy 16. The Combating Illini rallied to beat Chattanooga 54-53 and keep away from a second straight early-round exit.

Houston would not have a single starter left from final yr’s group, which misplaced to eventual champion Baylor. However that is hardly declawed the Cougars, who’ve received 10 of 11 — 9 by double digits.

Coach Kelvin Sampson introduced in Edwards and has two different switch starters — Taze Moore (Cal State-Bakersfield) and Josh Carlton (UConn). The Cougars are skilled and tournament-tested, even when a few of them acquired it at different colleges.

“We acquired a number of veteran folks, veteran guys on this group,” Edwards mentioned. “Once we get drained, it’s not like we simply surrender and lay down. I believe we are able to push via that and push via adversity.”

The Blazers (27-8) did all they may to remain shut, however any time UAB threatened, the Cougars answered with a layup, dunk or 3-pointer. UAB hung round and was inside 10 factors halfway via the second half when Houston used a 14-5 spurt to place it away.

Displeased along with his group’s defensive effort, Sampson made it clear at halftime issues needed to change.

Popping out of the break, the Cougars buckled down.

“We needed to sort of reacquaint ourselves with who we have been defensively,” Sampson mentioned. “Defensively, second half, I assumed we have been excellent in nearly each aspect, our ball display screen coverages, facet pick-and-roll, mid pick-and-roll, our shot contest, defensive rebounding.”

Walker was the main target for Houston’s protection coming in and the speedy guard had a tough night time whereas perhaps attempting to do an excessive amount of to maintain his group shut. He completed with 17 factors on 6-of-18 capturing and had 5 turnovers.

“Jamal Shead and the job he did on Jordan Walker,” Sampson mentioned. “Our children definitely heard sufficient about him. Rightfully so. Most of it got here from us telling them how good he was. As a result of he’s good.”

In contrast to the Illinois-Chattanooga slugfest, Houston and UAB got here out flying.

The Cougars, who placed on a dunking present in warmups that might make their college’s famed Phi Slamma Jamma alumni groups proud, made seven of their 9 3-pointers and opened a 34-16 lead.

“What was a shock was them coming in and capturing the duvet off it,” mentioned UAB’s Michael Ertel, who had 13 factors. “They made a number of exhausting pictures however we allow them to get going. Gave them a number of open seems. We didn’t play properly defensively tonight and it price us.”

A type of early 3s got here from Shead, who after banking in his lengthy shot yelled to his teammates, “I referred to as it.”

Houston additionally confirmed why it got here into the event because the nation’s chief in field-goal share protection. The Cougars gave the Blazers no straightforward seems early.

Nevertheless, the Blazers regrouped and responded with a late 10-4 burst to shut inside 46-37 on the half.

SECOND TO ONE

Houston is usually ignored in discussions about faculty basketball’s high applications. However the numbers help the Cougars’ excellence.

Since 2017, solely Gonzaga (151-15) has a greater file than Houston (142-29). Kansas and Villanova are third and fourth, respectively.