Dedan Thomas Jr. Scores 20 With 8 Assists as No. 10 Houston Beats California 86-68

Photo: Houston Athletics. Dedan Thomas Jr. in Houston uniform, official Houston Athletics photo. Card design: The Dyme.

FINAL, Tahoe Blue Event Center, Stateline, Nev. (Lake Tahoe Classic): No. 10 Houston 86, California 68.

Dedan Thomas Jr. had 20 points and eight assists in 35 minutes, shooting 9 of 15 from the field and 1 of 1 on threes and at the line. He had two steals and one turnover. Joseph Tugler added 16 points, four blocks and two steals, Delrecco Gillespie had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Chase McCarty scored 11 points in 12 minutes, going 3 of 7 on threes.

The margin came from inside

By our count, the 18-point margin is a 26-point edge on twos (58-32), offset by a nine-point deficit on threes (18-27) and plus-one at the line (10-9). Cal made nine threes to Houston's six, but Houston shot 35 of 67 overall (52 percent) to Cal's 25 of 57 (44 percent).

Houston led 43-32 at halftime and got the lead up to 23 in the second half, according to the box score. Cal pulled within 13 at 71-58 with 8:04 left, and Houston called timeout at 7:58, per ESPN play-by-play.

Houston had 50 points in the paint to Cal's 24, 22 points off turnovers to 11, and 20 fast-break points to eight. The Cougars forced 16 turnovers, with 14 steals, and committed nine. Houston also had 7 blocks and outrebounded Cal 35-31. Those edges describe the game's shape. They are not the margin components above.

California

Michael Cooper led Cal with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5 of 8 on threes. Jordan Ross had 15 points and five assists, and Sammie Yeanay added nine. Lee Dort did not play; ESPN lists him as DNP, and On3 noted Cal played without him. Neither gave a reason. The Bears are 2-1.

What it means

Houston is 2-0. The Cougars host Jacksonville State on Wednesday at Fertitta Center, according to Houston Athletics.

Sources

• ESPN box score, game 401918053. Final Houston 86, California 68. Houston listed No. 10. Venue Tahoe Blue Event Center, Stateline, Nev. Halves Houston 43-43, California 32-36. Houston 35-67 FG, 6-16 3PT, 10-11 FT, 35 reb, 18 ast, 14 stl, 7 blk, 9 TO, 22 pts off TO, 20 fast break, 50 paint, largest lead 23. California 25-57 FG, 9-26 3PT, 9-14 FT, 31 reb, 15 ast, 16 TO, 11 pts off TO, 8 fast break, 24 paint. Thomas 20 pts, 9-15 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-1 FT, 8 ast, 2 stl, 1 TO, 35 min. Tugler 16 pts, 4 blk. Gillespie 13 pts, 8 reb. McCarty 11 pts. Cooper 19 pts, 5-8 3PT. Ross 15 pts, 5 ast. Yeanay 9.
• NCAA.com game summary. Final, Houston 86, California 68, Tahoe Blue Event Center, Stateline, Nev., Houston ranked No. 10.
• On3 Golden Bear Report recap. Houston 86-68 win, Cal without Lee Dort, Houston lead reached 23. Timeout timing in body uses ESPN play-by-play (8:04 / 7:58), not On3's 7:55.
• Houston Athletics game notes. No. 10 ranking, Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic at Tahoe Blue Event Center, next game vs. Jacksonville State Wednesday Nov. 11 at Fertitta Center.
• Photo: Houston Athletics official Dedan Thomas Jr. page. Card uses Houston-uniform action photo linked from that page (primary roster headshot is suit/tie).