Sharp Leads No. 2 Houston Past Lehigh as Sampson Earns 800th Career Win

Senior guard Emanuel Sharp scored 24 points to lead the No. 2-ranked Houston Cougars to a 75–57 win over Lehigh on Monday night at the Fertitta Center, giving head coach Kelvin Sampson his 800th career victory.

Houston (1–0) dominated from the start, opening the game on a 15–2 run and taking a 44–23 halftime lead while shooting 57 percent in the first half. Freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. recorded a double-double in his collegiate debut with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Milos Uzan also added 12 points. Junior forward Joseph Tugler chipped in 11 points, three assists, and four blocks as the Cougars held Lehigh to 37 percent shooting from the field.

Lehigh’s Nasir Whitlock led the Mountain Hawks with 18 points and nine rebounds, but Houston’s depth and defensive pressure proved too much to overcome. The Cougars outrebounded Lehigh 41–29 and forced 16 turnovers, maintaining control throughout the second half.

The victory marked a major milestone for Sampson, who became the 17th coach in NCAA Division I history to reach 800 career wins and just the fourth active coach to do so. Since taking over at Houston in 2014, Sampson has compiled a 300–84 record and helped reestablish the program as a national contender.

Houston improved to 61–20 all-time in season openers and has now won 17 straight. The Cougars will continue their homestand Saturday against Towson at 2 p.m. before hosting Oakland on Nov. 12.