No. 10 Houston kicked off its 2024-25 campaign with a statement victory, dismantling La Salle 94-55 on Monday night at the Fertitta Center. The Cougars established early dominance, building a 43-23 halftime lead fueled by a blistering first-half performance from Delrecco Gillespie, who tallied 11 of his 13 total points before the break. Dedan Thomas Jr. led the scoring with 16 points, while Corey Hadnot II contributed 14, showcasing Houston’s balanced offensive attack against a struggling Explorers defense.
Cougars dominate the paint and force 19 turnovers in a commanding season opener.
The statistical disparity was stark, with Houston shooting 54% from the field and outrebounding La Salle 47-32. The Cougars controlled the interior, posting a 44-10 scoring advantage in the paint, and capitalized on La Salle’s sloppy ball handling by converting 19 turnovers into 25 points. In contrast, the Explorers shot just 25% from the field and went a dismal 8-of-39 from deep, failing to find any rhythm against Houston’s disciplined perimeter defense.
Despite a brief 8-0 run by La Salle in the first half that cut the deficit to nine, the game was effectively decided by the second quarter. Kam Burton led the Explorers with 15 points, and Devin Booker added 12, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the physicality of the matchup. The contest was marked by intense physicality, with the teams combining for 46 fouls, three technicals, and one flagrant foul, yet Houston remained composed, finishing 27-of-37 from the free-throw line to seal the rout.
Source: Yahoo Sports
