Ronnie Johnson scored a career-high 25 points to pace Houston in an 81-65 nonconference rout of Eastern Illinois on Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston.

Johnson, a redshirt junior guard, has reached double figures in seven of nine games this season for the Cougars (8-1), whose only loss came in a 67-57 decision at Rhode Island on Dec. 8.

Houston junior guard Damyean Dotson added 16 points, freshman guard Galen Robinson Jr. had 11, and senior forward Devonta Pollard finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Cougars shot 47.1 percent (24 of 51) and made 10 of 26 3-pointers.

Cornell Johnston, a sophomore guard, totaled a team-high 19 points while junior guard Demetrius McReynolds added 13 for the Panthers, who shot 43.8 percent (21 of 48).

Eastern Illinois (2-7) has lost three in a row.

Houston was up 41-37 at halftime and led by as many as 19 points in the second half.