December 27, 2003
Andre Owens scored a career-high 41 points to help Houston erase a late double-digit deficit and beat Texas A&M 70-61 in overtime Saturday before 3,291 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion in the first meeting between the former Southwest Conference foes since 1996.
Owens' offensive output marked the most against the Aggies (5-4) since Houston's Otis Birdsong scored 43 in 1977. Seven of Owens' 12 field goals on the night came from behind the arc.
A&M held an 11-point lead with 7:51 to play after a jumper by Andy Slocum. After a media timeout, the Cougars (5-3) converted a free throw before Owens single-handedly brought UH back into the game with a pair of 3-pointers and a driving layup over a 66-second span. The Aggie lead had been trimmed to 49-47 with 5:15 left.
Owens tied the game at 51 with 2:30 to go on another trey and sank four free throws in the final minute. The last came with 21.7 left and gave the Cougars a 3-point advantage, but Antoine Wright forced overtime with a three-pointer of his own with 9.9 seconds to go. Wright's field goal was the Aggies' first since Slocum's jumper at the 7:51 mark.
A&M trailed by four with 1:31 to play in overtime, but turnovers followed by fouls sent the Cougars to the line where they went 8-for-8 to seal the win.
Owens drained three treys early in the first half, the last giving Houston a 13-12 lead with 12 minutes to play. The Aggies then went on a 12-2 run to distance themselves from the Cougars, holding UH to just one basket until the 5-minute mark.
Jesse King led the way for A&M with 19 points, 11 in the first half. Wright added 15, while Slocum finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds after being held scoreless in the first half. The double-double was Slocum's fourth of the season, tying him for the Big 12 lead.
Owens was the only player in double figures for Houston. Ferguson set a career best with 8 blocks.
The Aggies out-rebounded UH, 42-39, but were just 4-of-20 from three-point range.
The game was delayed for 10 minutes with 8:30 to go in the game after a dunk attempt by Slocum brought the shot clock down from above the backboard.
A&M returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. when the Aggies hit the road to face Louisiana-Monroe in the final non-conference road game of the season.