Johnson overcame a first-half leg injury to score 15 points and dish seven assists, while Houston led all scorers with a career-high 21 points in just 28 minutes.
"I wasn't gonna quit on them," said Johnson, the team's point guard and emotional leader.
Johnson left the game midway through the first half, limping to the hallway near the locker rooms to loosen up a nagging hamstring injury. He still limped upon his return, but managed to distribute four assists in the half as the Toreros took a 31-27 lead into the locker room.
San Diego got a big half off the bench from Houston, who scored six points during a key 12-3 Toreros run and finished with 13 points in just 12 minutes to lead all scorers at the break.
Houston was named Player of the Game, but deflected much of the praise to his teammates, all of whom, he said, did their jobs.
"I just tried to do mine," he said.
The Toreros had to fend off a late charge from the Cougars, who cut the lead to just three points with 1:20 left to go on a three-pointer from Kelvin Lewis.
"That was a really tough, gritty win for us," San Diego coach Bill Grier said.
Houston entered the game as the nation's top scoring team but encountered tough sledding early. Senior guard Aubrey Coleman, who entered as the country's top scorer with 30.7 points per game, was limited to just six in the first half as the Cougars shot just 35.7 percent from the floor - compared to a red-hot 60 percent for San Diego.
The game remained tight into the second half, but the Cougars' inability to make shots - and San Diego's ability to hit them - proved the difference. The Toreros made 25 of 30 free throws and shot 57.9 percent from the floor for the game.
Houston coach Tom Penders credited San Diego with slowing the pace of the game and forcing the Cougars into more of a half-court game.
"We could never get the lead to force them into playing a quicker tempo," Penders said.
Chris Lewis added 11 points and 11 boards for the Toreros.
Coleman finished with 16 points and Lewis added 17 for the Cougars, who shot just 36 percent from the floor.
"We had shots spin around and roll out, and sometimes that's how it falls," Lewis said.
San Diego improved to 4-1 overall and advanced into tonight's championship game against Washington State at 7.
Houston fell to 2-2 overall, 1-1 in the Shootout. The Cougars will play UAA in the 4:30 game for third place.
Find Matt Tunseth at adn.com/contact/mtunseth or call him at 257-4335.
Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout
Houston 27 38 -- 65
San Diego 31 41 -- 72
HOUSTON -- McNeil 0-2 2-2 2, Van Slyke 3-8 0-0 8, Lewis 7-17 0-0 17, A. Coleman 6-16 4-7 16, Brown 2-8 2-2 7, S. Coleman 1-1 0-0 3, Nixon 0-2 2-2 2, Wade 3-7 2-4 8, Washington 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 22-61 12-19 65.
SAN DIEGO -- Lewis 4-7 3-5 11, Mafra 2--3 0-0 4, Johnson 2-5 10-10 15, Ginty 1-3 2-2 5, Jackson 3-5 0-0 6, McCollum 0-2 2-2 2, Dorr 1-2 0-0 3, Houston 7-9 7-9 21, Manresa 2-2 1-2 5. Totals: 22-38 25-30 72.
Three-point goals -- Houston 9-30 (Lewis 3-8, Wade 2-4, Van Slyke 2-7, S. Coleman 1-1, Brown 1-6, Nixon 0-1, A. Coleman 0-3). San Diego 3-12 (Dorr 1-1, Ginty 1-3, Johnson 1-4, Lewis 0-1, Jackson 0-1, McCollum 0-2) Total fouls -- Houston 23. San Diego 16. Fouled out -- Van Slyke. Rebounds -- Houston 20 (A. Coleman, Wade 4). San Diego 38 (Lewis 11) Turnovers -- Houston 8 (A. Coleman, Brown 3). San Diego 23 (Jackson 9). Assists -- Houston 13 (A. Coleman 4). San Diego 16 (Johnson 7). Steals -- Houston 14 (A. Coleman 7). San Diego 5 (Dorr 2). Blocked shots -- Houston 1. San Diego 1. Officials -- Harris, Mayberry, McNew. A -- 5,700.
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