Cincinnati and Houston picked up victories in American Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Saturday, December 18
Houston 72, Oklahoma State 61 - Box Score
Cincinnati 71, Ashland 57 - Box Score
Florida 66, South Florida 55 - Box Score
North Texas 62, Wichita State 52 - Box Score

Houston 72, Oklahoma State 61 - Box Score
FORT WORTH, Texas -- — Jamal Shead scored 18 points, Fabian White had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 14 Houston beat Oklahoma State 72-61 on Saturday in the lone game of the scheduled Hoop Hype XL College Basketball Showcase doubleheader.

Marcus Sasser added 15 points and Kyler Edwards had 13 for the Cougars (10-2).

Bryce Williams led Oklahoma State (7-4) with 17 points – 12 of which came from free throws — and was the only Cowboy to score in double figures.

Houston led 57-55 with 4:31 left in the second half before going on a 10-2 run. Eight points came from Shead, including both of his 3-pointers in the game.

"When we ran stuff for Fabes tonight, something good happened," Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of White. "He was our best player tonight. Jamal stepped up and made tough shots.

"A lot of coaches will bemoan the fact their team didn't play well. They fail to give the other team credit. Oklahoma State's quickness and athleticism bothered us. We couldn't get out of our own way."

Oklahoma State was held 15 points below its scoring average by an opponent that emphasizes defense.

"I'm proud of guys, how they responded in several moments in that game, which could have gotten away from us," Cowboys coach Mike Boynton said, "but we didn't make enough toughness plays at key moments."

Earlier, with the score tied 11-11 eight minutes in, Houston had a 10-point burst that included three consecutive 3-pointers by Edwards. That put him over 1,000 career points in his four-year college career — the first three seasons at Texas Tech.

With the Cougars leading 35-23, the Cowboys scored the final seven points of the half to pull within 35-30 at halftime. The streak began with a layup by Isaac Likekele and a tap-in by Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe off an assist by Likekele.

Cincinnati 71, Ashland 57 - Box Score
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Cincinnati had two players with more than 20 points as the Bearcats defeated Ashland (Ohio), 71-57, at Fifth Third Arena.

David DeJulius led all scorers with 24 points, while Jeremiah Davenport added 22, including six 3-pointers. 

Cincinnati's originally scheduled game against Texas Southern was cancelled after Covid-19 issues within Texas Southern's program. 

Florida 66, South Florida 55 - Box Score
SUNRISE, Fla. -- — Colin Castleton scored 12 points with 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double, and Florida held off South Florida 66-55 at the the Orange Bowl Classic on Saturday.

Castleton scored nine in the second half, including a putback that showcased Florida's transition game. Phlandrous Fleming swatted away a driving layup by South Florida's Jamir Chaplin, Tyree Applebee caught the ball in the air, spun away from a defender to start the fast break. Appleby fed to Myreon Jones cutting to the basket and Castleton was there for the flush when Jones' layup rimmed out.

The win was just the second in five games this month for Florida (8-3). Fleming finished with 12 points, Anthony Duruji added 11 points and 9 rebounds, Jones scored eight with four boards. Jones hit a jumper and a 3-pointer back-to-back as Florida closed the first half on a 17-2 run.

CJ Felder turned a miss into a highlight when he soared in to collar a Jones 3-point attempt as it clanked off the back iron and threw it down for an emphatic dunk and a 16-point lead.

Caleb Murphy led the Bulls (4-5) with 16 points, five assists and three steals. Greene added 10 points.

USF outscored Florida 16-4 over a nearly five-minute span of the second half to get within 48-45 with nine minutes remaining. Jake Boggs and Greene punctuated the rally with USF's first 3-pointers of the game after starting 0 for 6 from distance.

North Texas 62, Wichita State 52 - Box Score
WICHITA, Kan. -- — Tylor Perry tied his season high with 23 points as North Texas beat Wichita State 62-52 on Saturday.

Perry converted all 10 of his foul shots.

Thomas Bell had 13 points for the Mean Green (7-3), who notched their fifth straight victory. Abou Ousmane added 10 points.

Morris Udeze had 17 points for the Shockers (8-3). Craig Porter Jr. added 12 points.

Wichita State totaled a season-low 18 second-half points.