Dedan Thomas Jr. put on a show Sunday night, dropping 20 points and dishing out eight assists to lead No. 10 Houston to a decisive 86-68 victory over Cal at the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic. The transfer point guard from LSU was straight up cooking, hitting 9-of-15 shots from the floor and leading the Cougars in scoring for the second game in a row.
UH Keeps Rolling, Streak Hits 42!
This team is no joke, y’all. With this win, UH has now rattled off 42 straight victories against unranked opponents. Think about that for a second. Forty-two games! They aren’t only winning, they’re cruising, taking their first two games of the season by an average of 28.5 points. Against Cal, the Cougars flexed their muscle with seven blocked shots and 14 steals, stifling the Golden Bears all over the court. Joseph Tugler was a beast inside, adding 16 points and four blocks, holding down the paint like a brick wall.
Weaver’s Wild Ride and McCarty’s Return
Talk about making an entrance! Chendall Weaver, another transfer, made his season debut after getting a temporary restraining order on November 4, and he brought some serious energy. In just 15 minutes, Weaver notched six points and three steals, including an “electric 30-second stretch.” He dunked off a missed shot and then immediately converted a steal into a fastbreak dunk. That’s the kind of spark you love to see! And shoutout to Chase McCarty, who was back in the starting lineup after dealing with a sprained left knee from the season opener. He didn’t miss a beat, hitting three three-pointers, two of them in the opening minutes, and finished with 11 points in only 12 minutes on the floor. Delrecco Gillespie also chipped in with a solid 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. This team has so many weapons.
The Cougars didn’t just win, they controlled this game, leading by 17 in the first half and pushing that lead to 23 multiple times in the second. Cal tried to mount a comeback, with Jordan Ross cutting the deficit to 13 with eight minutes left, and Michael Cooper leading them with 19 points, including five triples. But it wasn’t enough to stop the No. 10 squad. UH is looking like a force right now, and with Thomas Jr. leading the charge and guys like Weaver and McCarty stepping up, this season could be something special. Watch out, college basketball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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