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HOUSTON — The snow never bothered them anyway.
With the game delayed a day due to the largest snowstorm in the Houston area in 20 years, Utah looked like a team frozen and without answers against the seventh-ranked Houston Cougars Wednesday night.
Houston quickly built up a 23-5 lead nine minutes into the game, forced eight early turnovers that translated into 10 points on the other end for the Cougars, and completely snuffed out a Utah team coming off a three-game win streak.
And it didn't get much better the longer the game developed.
Utah eventually eclipsed double figures with 6:53 left in the first half, but Houston already had a 16-point lead amid a 20-4 run over a nine-minute stretch. The Cougars used that early momentum — and a continual smothering of Utah's offense throughout the game — to pull away for a 70-36 win.
The Runnin' Utes (11-7, 3-4 Big 12) failed to have any player finish the game in double figures as the team shot a collective 30% from the field. The team shot 42% from the free-throw line and turned the ball over 26 times as Houston (15-3, 7-0 Big 12) took advantage with 29 points off Utah's mistakes.
Conversely, the home Cougars shot 43% from the field — a number that was much higher until later in the game — while only making five 3-pointers. The Cougars were without their second-leading scorer in Emanuel Sharp, who was out with a foot sprain.
Sharp's absence didn't matter, though; Utah was outmatched in nearly every facet of the game.
The Cougars had four players finish in double figures and were led by Milos Uzan, who contributed 14 points and five assists. LJ Cryer added 13 points, including three made 3-pointers, and J'Wan Roberts supplied an additional 11 points and four rebounds in the win.
Gabe Madsen, who managed two made 3-pointers, finished with a team-high 8 points in the low-scoring affair for the Utes. Keanu Dawes contributed 7 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
