Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Houston 73, North Carolina Central 65
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Where: Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, Texas
Officials: # Bert Smith, # Mike Stuart, # Raymond Styons
Attendance: 3342

Houston forward Devonta Pollard led the host Cougars with 16 points and eight rebounds in the 73-65 victory over North Carolina Central on Wednesday night.

The Eagles were led by reserve guard Patrick Cole, who had 17 points and seven rebounds, and guard Jeremiah Ingram, who had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston, of the American Athletic Conference, entered the game 6-1 overall, including 6-0 at home, but the Cougars were challenged most of the way by North Carolina Central (3-7) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Eagles led by as many as six points early in the second half and were down only 48-47 with 10 minutes left when guard Dajuan Graf (12 points on 5-of-5 shooting) made a jumper.

Houston then held the Eagles to only one field goal over the next four minutes as the Cougars went on a 12-2 run to pull away to a 60-49 lead with 6:26 remaining. Guard Ronnie Johnson had eight points in that stretch.

North Carolina Central then went on a 14-5 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Graf and guard Dante Holmes, to cut the lead to 66-63 with 1:38 left.

A 3-pointer by Houston guard Damyean Dotson with 1:14 remaining and two free throws each by guards Galen Robinson Jr. and Johnson in the last 50 seconds staved off the threat.
Top Game Performances
 
North Carolina Central   Houston
Patrick Cole 17 Scoring Devonta Pollard 16
Patrick Cole 3 Assists Galen Robinson Jr. 5
Jeremiah Ingram 11 Rebounds Devonta Pollard 8
Patrick Cole 9 Free Throws Made Devonta Pollard 8
Patrick Cole 2 Steals Devonta Pollard 2
Jeremiah Ingram 1 Blocks LeRon Barnes 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
North Carolina Central 65 35.5 4-21 17-22 7 39 1 5 12
Houston 73 41.1 8-23 19-23 13 33 6 4 10