UH's President is Thrilled For the Cougars

HOUSTON - The University of Houston's top official was cheering on her men's basketball team Saturday as the Cougars earned their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1992.

Houston beat UTEP 81-73 in the Conference USA championship game in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"Absolutely excited," said Dr. Renu Khator, UH President. "Very excited. So cool.

"We are just so proud of those Cougars."

Khator had planned to personally attend the title game, but decided the Cougars would be better off if she stayed at home.

"I did watch the game," Khator said. "I had promised them that I will come there if they get to the finals.

"Then I get afraid. I said 'oh let me not jinx them. Let them just do it.' So I was glued to the TV, yes."

When the Cougars made their important run in the second half Khator sent a message to Cougars Nation.

"I was on my Twitter," Khator said. "I sent a Tweet with about three minutes left and said to everybody please send your positive energy to those fighting Cougars.

"We are one point ahead and then when they won I sent along 'yea we won.'"

Khator said it is valuable to everyone connected to the University of Houston when Cougar athletics is successful on national television.

"It's absolutely fantastic," Khator said. "That's what we are trying to build here, a nationally visible, nationally competitive university and athletics, football and basketball, they just add so much to it.

"Every athlete who is out there, they are our students first. So I am so proud of them as students and as athletes."