Sports

Final Score: Houston 78, SMU 67

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Danuel House scored a career-high 28 points as the Houston Cougars defeated the SMU Mustangs, 78-67, in Conference USA action at Hofheinz Pavilion.

House made good on 7-of-11 from the floor and 13-of-17 from the foul line in the Houston (12-2, 1-0 C-USA) victory. Joseph Young recorded 20 points and Leon Gibson tallied eight points and 14 rebounds as Houston won its seventh straight game. TaShawn Thomas also had a big night on the boards with 12 rebounds.

For the Mustangs (10-7, 0-2), Jalen Jones recorded a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Nick Russell scored 14 points, but he was the only other play in double-figures for SMU, which lost its third straight game.

SMU shot a lofty 16-of-26 from the floor in the first half on its way to a 36-32 halftime advantage. Houston kept the game close by shooting 6-of-7 from the foul line in the opening 20 minutes.

The Cougars surged past the Mustangs in the second half by converting 17-of-25 free throw attempts and outshooting SMU from the field, 44.8 percent to 30.8 percent.

SMU went just 6-of-10 from the charity stripe and committed a game-high 14 turnovers.

01/10 00:11:15 ET