As soon as Houston coach Kelvin Sampson requested Marcus Sasser to cross rather less and search for his shot, the No. 1 Cougars have been properly on their approach to turning what seemed like a tough street check into a snug victory.“They have been backing off of Marcus and Marcus was passing it, and I used to be going, ‘Marcus, shoot,’” Sampson mentioned.Sasser highlighted a 23-point efficiency with seven 3-pointers, and Houston defeated Tulane 80-60 on Tuesday evening for the Cougars’ ninth straight victory.Sampson “was telling me to do what I do greatest for the crew,” mentioned Sasser, who averages a team-leading 16.6 factors per sport and was coming off a 31-point evening in his earlier sport towards South Florida. “I felt like, first half I used to be being passive. … I simply put my thoughts on being aggressive and attempting to place the ball within the gap. I actually simply bought rolling.”J’Wan Roberts scored 15 and Jamal Shead added 14 factors for Houston (18-1, 6-0 American Athletic Convention), which led for all however a 50-second span within the first half whereas stopping Tulane (12-6, 5-2) from taking excessive spot within the convention.Jaylen Forbes scored 23 and Jalen Cook dinner added 15 factors for the Wave, which couldn’t get nearer than 5 factors within the second half. When Sasser’s 3 with 3:28 made it 73-54, Tulane followers began submitting out of an enviornment, which had been packed and loud for a lot of the sport’s first half-hour.“I noticed it,” Sasser mentioned of the followers heading for the exits. “It’s at all times a superb feeling to try this. I really feel like that’s type of the dagger. It’s at all times good to hit these dagger pictures like that.”Tramon Mark added 12 factors for Houston, which shot 55.4% and hit 12 of 24 3-point makes an attempt.“They’re undoubtedly the No. 1 crew within the nation,” Tulane coach Ron Hunter mentioned of the Cougars. “I’ve been doing this a very long time, and they’re a gifted crew.”Kevin Cross scored 12 for Tulane, which shot 40% and made simply 6 of 26 from deep — a steep drop off in offensive manufacturing from the 88 factors the Inexperienced Wave had averaged throughout its first six convention video games.The Cougars opened the second half with an 8-0 run fueled by Sasser’s 3 and his driving layup to take a 48-32 lead. Houston was nonetheless up 53-38 after Sasser’s step-back 3, however the Wave was briefly in a position to lock in defensively, forcing 5 straight Cougars misses throughout an 11-1 run.“We confirmed battle,” Forbes mentioned. “We didn’t simply lay all the way down to them.”Forbes’ fourth 3 of the sport capped the spurt and pulled Tulane to 54-49 earlier than Houston’s Mark hit a pull-up in transition to stunt the Wave’s momentum and spark a 7-0 Cougars run highlighted by one other Sasser 3.“On the street, going into the sport, we all know how the group’s going to attempt to contain themselves within the sport,” Mark mentioned. “I feel we dealt with it fairly properly.”The Cougars shot 57% within the first half and led by 12 when Shead hit a driving layup within the last minute of the half.However Tulane ended the half on a excessive be aware. Forbes hit a 3 as he was fouled on the left wing with 4 seconds to go and accomplished the four-point play to tug the Wave to 40-32 at halftime.BIG PICTUREHouston: The sport represented arguably the Cougars’ hardest check in convention play this season. Not solely did the Inexperienced Wave are available attempting to take over first place within the AAC, however Tulane’s cozy, 4,000-seat Fogelman Area within the Devlin Fieldhouse was bought out days upfront, packed and loud. However the Cougars seemed composed and properly rested after not having performed for six days. They saved a double-digit lead for a lot of the evening and had a response for each Tulane run.“I do know that after we’re on our stuff, we’re a reasonably good crew and we’re arduous to beat,” Shead mentioned. “J’Wan introduced it right this moment, Marcus was electrical, Tramon was electrical. I didn’t count on (a 20-point win), however I’m proud of it.”Tulane: The Inexperienced Wave might need its greatest crew in years however has now misplaced 10 straight towards Houston. Tulane will get its subsequent shot to interrupt its dropping streak towards the Cougars on Feb. 22 in Houston.UP NEXTHouston: Hosts Temple on Sunday.Tulane: At Tulsa on Saturday evening.