LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Houston Cougars used a dominant first half to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 66-56 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.

Houston built a 39-25 halftime lead and withstood a stronger second-half effort from Notre Dame to secure the win. The victory improved the Cougars’ record to 7-1, while the Fighting Irish fell to 5-3. The game was played before an announced attendance of 1,629.