Houston Beats Cal 86-68 at Lake Tahoe Classic

Dedan Thomas Jr. led No. 10 Houston with 20 points and eight assists, while transfer Chendall Weaver made his season debut.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball

Houston Beats Cal 86-68 at Lake Tahoe Classic

No. 10 Houston defeated Cal 86-68 at the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic in Stateline, Nev. Houston led by as many as 23 points in the second half after building a 17-point first-half lead.

Why it matters

The win extends Houston's streak of 42 games against unranked opponents and gives the team an early test of depth. Weaver's debut came after a Tarrant County district court granted him a temporary restraining order, allowing him to play.

Houston finished with seven blocked shots and 14 steals, while Dedan Thomas Jr. shot 9-of-15 from the floor for 20 points and eight assists. Joseph Tugler added 16 points and four blocks in the win over Cal.

The players

Dedan Thomas Jr.

Houston guard who led the team with 20 points and eight assists against Cal.

Chendall Weaver

Transfer from Texas seeking a fifth year of eligibility who made his season debut for Houston after a court ruling.

The details

Weaver sparked an early Houston run with a dunk off a missed shot and a fastbreak dunk off a steal, finishing with six points and three steals in 15 minutes. Cal trimmed the deficit to 13 points on a Jordan Ross layup with 8:04 remaining before Houston pulled away.

Nov. 4: Tarrant County district court granted Weaver a temporary restraining order.
Nov. 8: Houston defeated Cal 86-68 at the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.

Season Trajectory

The win extends Houston's streak of 42 consecutive games against unranked opponents, a run that has kept the Cougars among the country's strongest programs. Early-season results like this one set the tone for how the team's depth and new transfers are evaluated before conference play begins.

Weaver's eligibility status remains under a temporary order, which affects how Houston can use him in the rotation. Fantasy and betting interest in Thomas and Tugler stems from their production in this game.

The takeaway

Early-season depth matters, and Houston's ability to get productive minutes from newcomers like Weaver will shape its outlook. Watching how the eligibility case develops will clarify the team's rotation going forward.