Houston Cougars Dominate Idaho in NCAA Tournament

0:00A March 20th, Houston's number two-seated men's basketball team kicked off its March madness run, with a dominant 78-47 win. Over number 15 seed Idaho in the first round. The Cougars faced a vandal squad in its first NCAA tournament game since 1990, but Houston pulled away early thanks to strong play from. Its freshman starters, freshman guard Kingston Fleming's lit it up with 18 points in his tournament debut, setting a new Houston freshman record for scoring in an NCAA. Game after going a perfect six-for-six from the floor to start. Forward, Chris Sinek Jr. matched that with a career-high 18 rebounds, mostly on the defensive end, helping Houston out rebound Idaho by 15. The win builds real confidence in coach Kelvin Samson's young roster, especially after dodging any opening round upsets on a busy Thursday at the Ben, Pay Combs Center and Oklahoma City. Five Cougars scored in double figures overall, showing depth across the lineup.

1:01Off the bench, sophomore guard Mercy Miller stepped up with 10 points in 24 minutes. His second straight double digit outing, including two. Three pointers, a steal, and a block. That performance hints at a bigger roll ahead, especially if starters get into foul trouble against tougher foes. Now Houston gears up for a second round clash with Texas A&M on March 21st, their second meeting in three seasons, with plenty of in-state. Crowd energy on the line, as the Cougars chase a deep tournament run.