Houston crushes California in Lake Tahoe opener

No. 10 Houston did not allow California to stay within striking distance for long on Sunday night. The Cougars built an early lead and extended it to 23 points midway through the second half at the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic in Stateline, Nevada. They won the contest 86-68.

The game turned on Houston's control of the paint. The Cougars outscored the Golden Bears 50-24 inside the arc and shot 52% from the field. Dedan Thomas Jr. finished with 20 points and eight assists, while Joseph Tugler contributed 16 points and four blocked shots. Delrecco Gillespie added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Chase McCarty provided 11 points including three three-pointers.

California attempted to close the gap but could not overcome the size disparity. Mady Cooper led the Golden Bears with 19 points on five three-pointers. Jordan Ross added 15 points and five assists. California made nine of 26 attempts from beyond the arc and finished with a 2-1 record.

The Cougars forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 22 points. They recorded 14 steals and seven blocked shots while holding California to a 44% shooting percentage. Houston led 43-32 at the break and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game after a brief 14-4 run by California.

Houston hosts Jacksonville State on Wednesday night. California hosts No. 21 Southern California on Wednesday night.