Houston Cougars drop game two of China trip in shortened match

Photo by University of Houston Athletics Communications Office.
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2015 TexSport Publications

THIHU, CHINA (August 15, 2015) The Houston Cougars dropped the second game in their 10-day, four-game trip to China by the score of 77-66 against the Chinese Basketball Association’s Qingdao Doublestars on Saturday, August 15, 2015. The game was played at the Taihu County Sports Center in Taihu, China and was ended with 85 second remaining due to a series of minor altercations between players from both teams.

The leading scorer for the Cougars was redshirt junior Bertrand Nkali with 11 points, hitting four field goals and going 3-of-4 from the free throw line. The 6-8 forward sat out the 2014-2015 season after surgery for a sports hernia. He played the 2012-2013 season for Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, following up with the

2013-2014 season at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.

Entering the fourth quarter with the score tied at 54, the Doublestars went on a 21-4 run to take the lead that remained until the game was called. Fouls had a definite outcome on the game with the Cougars whistled 31 times, while their Chinese opponents were called a mire 12 times. The Cougars were 7-of-12 from the free throw line while Qingdao connected 33 times on 47 attempts.

Also aiding in the scoring was junior guard Damyean Dotson and senior forward LeRon Barnes, both with nine points. Senior forward Devonte Pollard chipped in eight points in the effort.

The Cougars will next hit the court on Sunday, August 16, 2015 in Taihi, China against a to-be-determined opponent. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. China Standard Time, which is 13 hours ahead of Houston time.

Houston Cougars win first game of China trip

Photo by University of Houston Athletics Communications Office.
Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2015 TexSport Publications

HEFEI, CHINA (August 14, 2-015) The Houston Cougars jumped out to a 51-49 lead at halftime and came back hard in the second half to down the Chinese Junior National Team by the score of 93-83 at Golden Seed Arena in Hefei, China on Friday, August 14, 2015. The game was the first contest in the Cougars’ 10-day, four-game trip to China.

Houston was led by junior guard Damyean Dotson, who scored 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds; seven of which were on the defensive end of the court.  Nine of Dotson’s 21 points were from beyond the three-point line.

Dotson, a 2012 graduate of Houston’s Jack Yates High School, played his first two college seasons at Oregon prior to transferring to Houston. He sat out the 2014-2015 season as a red-shirt sophomore while attending Houston Community College.

Teammates Galen Robinson, Jr., a 6-10 freshman from Westbury Christian High School, and Robert Gray, Jr. also scored in double-digits. Both guards scored 14 points in the Houston effort. In addition, junior center Kyle Meyer chipped in 14 points, along with pulling down seven rebounds.  

The Chinese Junior National Team held a 30-28 lead at the end of the first quarter and rallied to tie the score in the fourth quarter at 67. At that point, Gray, Jr. and Robinson, Jr. combined to score 12 points to give Houston the lead, of which they would not relinquish the rest of the contest.

The Cougars will play three more games on their China trip. They will again face the Chinese Junior National Team on Saturday, August 15 in Wangiiang, Sunday, August 16 in Taihu, and Monday, August 17 in Tongling. They will return to Houston on Thursday, August 20. At games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. China Standard Time, which is thirteen hours ahead of Houston time. 

China Mulling 2018 Winter Olympics Bid

BEIJING, CHINA (December 28, 2008)- Four months after serving as host of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China is mulling a bid to host the 2018 Winter Games in the northern city of Harbin, state media said on Thursday, quoting a government official.

Harbin, capital of northeastern Heilongjiang province, has spent $440 million on venues and facilities to host 4,000 athletes for the World University Winter Games in February, and would use the event as a dry run, the province's governor, Li Zhanshu, told the China Daily.

"If the hosting of the 2009 Winter Universiade can win applause from all the guests, it will enhance our confidence to bid for the Winter Olympic Games," Li said.

Harbin, famous for its annual ice sculpture festival, had failed in its bid to host the 2010 Winter Games, awarded to Vancouver.

"If we fail again for the 2018 Games, we are determined to win the 2022 Winter Games. It's our dream to host China's first Winter Olympics," Li said, adding that final sign-off for the bid would come from China's sports ministry.

The bustling city of some five million people would face competition from Munich, which declared itself a candidate last December, and from France, where three towns -- Annecy, Nice and Grenoble -- have indicated interest.

August's Beijing Games were largely hailed as a spectacular success for China, despite myriad concerns ranging from air pollution to human-rights abuses.