The University of Houston men’s basketball team opened its season preview in commanding fashion, defeating Mississippi State 61–52 in the nightcap of The Preview CBB Exhibition on Sunday night at the Fort Bend Epicenter.
Junior forward Joseph Tugler led the Cougars with 17 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while freshman Chris Cenac Jr. nearly posted a double-double with nine points, nine boards, and a game-high four steals.
The Cougars came out strong, jumping to a 15–4 lead in the first nine minutes and never trailing. Their defense set the tone early, holding Mississippi State without a field goal for nearly eight minutes to start the game.
Senior point guard Milos Uzan added 13 points, six rebounds (including four offensive boards), four assists, and three steals, while Emanuel Sharp chipped in timely buckets down the stretch to seal the win.
After Houston built a 44–32 advantage midway through the second half, Mississippi State battled back with a 9–0 run, cutting the deficit to 44–41 on a 3-pointer by Josh Hubbard. But the Cougars quickly regained control — Sharp hit a midrange jumper, Tugler added two baskets, and Cenac punctuated the rally with a steal and thunderous dunk to push the lead back to nine.
The Bulldogs made one final push to get within 53–47, but Houston closed strong behind free throws from Sharp and Tugler and a clutch Uzan 3-pointer to restore a double-digit cushion.
Hubbard led Mississippi State with 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting and was the only Bulldog in double figures.
Earlier in the day, Texas A&M defeated Arizona State 95–88 in the first game of the doubleheader.
