Houston Dominates La Salle in Season Opener
Monday, November 2, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Fertitta Center
Houston Cougars 94, La Salle Explorers 55, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won La Salle Explorers vs Houston Cougars?
Houston Cougars beat La Salle Explorers 94-55 at Fertitta Center on November 2, 2026.
Who was favored in La Salle Explorers vs Houston Cougars?
Houston Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -100000 (about 100% implied). The favorite won.
In a commanding performance, the Houston Cougars triumphed over the La Salle Explorers with a final score of 94 to 55 at the Fertitta Center. This matchup marked the season opener for both teams, with Houston entering the game with a home record of 1-0 and La Salle looking to bounce back from an away loss, bringing their record to 0-1. The Cougars showcased their dominance throughout the game, reflecting their recent form, which includes a 6-4 record over their last ten games, despite a recent loss in their last outing.
Houston's recent performance has been characterized by a scoring average of 74.4 points per game while allowing 66.9 points. They have been particularly strong at home, boasting a home record of 5-1 in their last six home games. In contrast, La Salle has struggled, with a record of 2-8 over their last ten games, averaging 69.1 points scored and 78.4 points allowed. Their away record is particularly concerning, as they have lost all five of their last away games.
The Cougars had a strong start to the game, establishing a lead that they maintained throughout. Their scoring prowess was evident as they executed plays effectively, with key contributions from players like Corey Hadnot II, who was involved in multiple scoring plays in the second half, including a 13-foot jumper assisted by Kordel Jefferson. Hadnot II also made a driving layup, showcasing his ability to penetrate the defense.
La Salle, despite their struggles, had moments of scoring, but they were unable to keep pace with Houston's offensive firepower. Bowyn Beatty contributed to the Explorers' score with free throws, but it was not enough to close the gap. The Explorers' last five games have seen them average 76.8 points scored but allow a staggering 89.2 points, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities.
The odds for this matchup were heavily in favor of Houston, with DraftKings listing the Cougars at -29.5 on the spread, indicating a strong expectation for them to win decisively. The total points line was set at 134.5, reflecting the anticipated scoring output from both teams. Houston's moneyline was an overwhelming -100000, while La Salle's was set at 5000, further emphasizing the disparity in expectations between the two teams.
The game conditions at the Fertitta Center were conducive to a high-scoring affair, and Houston took full advantage of their home court. The Cougars' ability to score efficiently and their defensive efforts combined to stifle La Salle's attempts to mount a comeback. The final score of 94-55 not only reflects Houston's offensive capabilities but also their defensive strength, as they limited La Salle to just 55 points.
Overall, this fixture showcased Houston's potential as they begin their season, while La Salle will need to regroup and address their defensive issues moving forward. The Cougars' performance sets a strong tone for their upcoming games, while the Explorers will look to improve as they continue their season.
What we said beforehand
The upcoming NCAAB matchup between the Houston Cougars and the La Salle Explorers is set to take place at the Fertitta Center on November 3, 2026. This game is particularly intriguing as both teams are entering the season with a clean slate, holding records of 0-0. Houston, known for its strong performances in recent seasons, will look to assert dominance against La Salle, which has struggled in its last few outings.
In their last five games, the Houston Cougars have recorded a 3-2 record, with their most recent game resulting in a win against the Kansas Jayhawks, where they secured a 69-47 victory. Houston has averaged 74.4 points per game while allowing 66.9 points over their last ten games, showcasing a solid offensive and defensive balance. Their home record stands at 5-1, indicating a strong advantage when playing in front of their fans. However, they are currently on a one-game losing streak, having lost to the Arizona Wildcats 79-74 prior to their win against Kansas.
On the other hand, the La Salle Explorers have faced significant challenges, finishing their last five games with a 1-4 record. Their last game resulted in a loss to the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, where they were defeated 99-80. Over their last ten games, La Salle has averaged 69.1 points scored while allowing a concerning 78.4 points, reflecting defensive vulnerabilities. Their away record is particularly troubling, as they have not won any of their last five away games, which could be a critical factor in this matchup.
Historically, the Cougars have performed well at home, and this game will be an opportunity for them to leverage their home-court advantage against a struggling La Salle team. The odds provided by DraftKings indicate that Houston is favored by 29.5 points, with a total set at 134.5. The spread reflects the expectations for Houston to dominate this matchup, given La Salle's recent form.
In terms of player availability, the block does not specify any injuries, but any absence of key players could significantly impact the dynamics of the game. Viewers should keep an eye on how both teams utilize their rosters, especially Houston's ability to exploit La Salle's defensive weaknesses.
As the game approaches, conditions at the Fertitta Center will be crucial, as a lively home crowd can often energize the home team. Fans can expect to see Houston's offensive strategies in action, particularly how they manage to score against La Salle's defense, which has been porous in recent games.
Overall, this fixture promises to be an interesting clash, with Houston looking to establish itself early in the season while La Salle aims to turn around its fortunes.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOU -29.5 | 134.5 o -108 / u -112 | La Salle Explorers +5000 · Houston Cougars -100000 |
Leaders
- PointsDedan Thomas Jr.16Houston Cougars
- AssistsDedan Thomas Jr.5Houston Cougars
- ReboundsDelrecco Gillespie7Houston Cougars
- PointsKam Burton15La Salle Explorers
- AssistsRJ Smith5La Salle Explorers
- ReboundsBowyn Beatty7La Salle Explorers
Recent form
Houston Cougars
Last 10: 6-4Streak L174.4 scored · 66.9 allowed per game5-1 at home
- L74-79at Arizona WildcatsMar 14
- W69-47vs Kansas JayhawksMar 14
- W73-66vs BYU CougarsMar 12
- W82-75at Oklahoma State CowboysMar 7
- W77-64vs Baylor BearsMar 5
- W102-62vs Colorado BuffaloesFeb 28
- L56-69at Kansas JayhawksFeb 24
- L66-73vs Arizona WildcatsFeb 21
- L67-70at Iowa State CyclonesFeb 17
- W78-64vs Kansas State WildcatsFeb 14
La Salle Explorers
Last 10: 2-8Streak L269.1 scored · 78.4 allowed per game0-5 away
- L80-99vs St. Bonaventure BonniesMar 11
- L76-88at Saint Joseph's HawksMar 7
- W87-84vs Fordham RamsMar 4
- L64-71at Davidson WildcatsMar 1
- L77-104vs George Washington RevolutionariesFeb 24
- W59-46vs Rhode Island RamsFeb 21
- L61-62at Duquesne DukesFeb 19
- L68-77vs VCU RamsFeb 11
- L58-82at Saint Louis BillikensFeb 7
- L61-71at Loyola Chicago RamblersFeb 4
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Dayton | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| George Mason | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| George Washington | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Loyola Chicago | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Richmond | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Saint Louis | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| VCU | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Duquesne | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Rhode Island | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Saint Joseph's | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Fordham | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
| La Salle | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
| St. Bonaventure | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
| Cincinnati | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Colorado | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Houston | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Kansas | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Oklahoma State | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| TCU | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Texas Tech | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| UCF | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Utah | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| West Virginia | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Arizona | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Arizona State | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| BYU | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Baylor | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Kansas State | 0-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Iowa State | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
Box score
| Stat | La Salle Explorers | Houston Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 15-60 | 31-57 |
| Field goal % | 25 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 8-39 | 5-14 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 36 |
| Free throws | 17-23 | 27-37 |
| Free throw % | 74 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 47 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 34 |
| Assists | 11 | 21 |
| Steals | 6 | 11 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 25 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 10 | 44 |
| Fouls | 27 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 43 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half30-55Dedan Thomas Jr. makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half33-55Trey Moss makes 26-foot three point jumper (RJ Smith assists)
- 2nd Half33-57Corey Hadnot II makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half33-59Corey Hadnot II makes layup (Mercy Miller assists)
- 2nd Half35-59Devin Booker makes 19-foot jumper (RJ Smith assists)
- 2nd Half35-60Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-61Joseph Tugler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-61Rob Dockery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-61Noah Collier makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-61Kam Burton makes 22-foot three point jumper (Trey Moss assists)
- 2nd Half40-63Arafan Diane makes layup (Corey Hadnot II assists)
- 2nd Half40-65Arafan Diane makes 3-foot dunk (Delrecco Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half40-67Delrecco Gillespie makes layup
- 2nd Half41-67Jaden Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-67Jaden Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-68Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-69Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-70Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-71Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-71Kam Burton makes 26-foot three point jumper (RJ Smith assists)
- 2nd Half45-72Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-73Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-75Mercy Miller makes layup
- 2nd Half46-75Kam Burton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-75Kam Burton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-77Arafan Diane makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half47-79Braden East makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Mercy Miller assists)
- 2nd Half49-79Devin Booker makes 3-foot dunk (RJ Smith assists)
- 2nd Half49-81Braden East makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half49-82Dedan Thomas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-85Kordel Jefferson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Corey Hadnot II assists)
- 2nd Half49-88Kordel Jefferson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Braden East assists)
- 2nd Half49-90Corey Hadnot II makes 13-foot jumper (Kordel Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half49-92Corey Hadnot II makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-92Bowyn Beatty makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-92Bowyn Beatty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-92Bowyn Beatty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-94Djafar Silimana makes layup (Corey Hadnot II assists)
- 2nd Half53-94Francois Nkoy-Eale makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-94RJ Smith makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Houston Cougars, below favours La Salle Explorers.
Venue
- Fertitta CenterHouston, TX
Elsewhere
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- Samford opens season with an 87-58 win over Berry
- Damone King scores 14 as Eastern Kentucky beats Kentucky Christian 105-54
- Vokietaitis, perfect from the field, helps No. 7 Texas open with 109-59 win over Chicago State
- Davis scores 22, Utah Valley knocks off Western Colorado 84-63
- Standouts, key wins, more reactions from men's hoops opening day