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Houston Defeats UAB, 82-68, in NCAA Championship First Round

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Houston looks like a problem again.

A Final Four team a year ago, the Cougars played like a group capable of making another deep run this March as they opened the NCAA Tournament with an 82-68 win over UAB on Friday night.

Offensively, Houston can light up the scoreboard with highlight-reel plays. Defensively, these Cougars are pretty ferocious cats.

“Their reputation precedes them,” UAB coach Andy Kennedy said. “They give you nothing easy. They’re tenacious off the glass. They’re disruptive.”

They’re moving on.

Kyler Edwards scored 25 points, Fabian White Jr.