SMU Captures Convincing Win At Houston, 65-51 (with video)

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Captures Convincing Win At Houston, 65-51
Papa Dia scores 27 as Mustangs beat Cougars in Houston for first time since 1999

Feb. 16, 2011

HOUSTON (AP) - Papa Dia scored 27 points and SMU won at Houston for the first time in more and a decade, 65-51 Wednesday night.

Robert Nyakundi added 16 points, and the Mustangs (16-7, 7-4 Conference USA) never trailed in posting their first victory in Houston since Nov. 27, 1999.

Maurice McNeil scored 14 points and Darian Thibodeaux had 12 for the Cougars (12-12, 4-7), who have lost six of seven.

SMU shot 62.5 percent in the first half and took a 39-32 lead into the break.

Houston kept it close until midway through the second half when the Cougars went on a scoring drought that lasted more than 8 minutes.

The Mustangs led 50-47 with 9:18 to play before pulling away with a 15-0 run.

SMU 65, at Houston 51
SMU Mustangs (16-9, 7-4), Houston Cougars (12-12, 4-7 C-USA)
February 16, 2011
Hofheinz Pavilion
Houston, Texas

NEXT GAME: SMU hosts Tulsa on February 19 at 2 p.m at Moody Coliseum.

TEAM NOTES
- SMU has won 6 of its past 7 games and 3 of the last 4 road games
- With 16 wins, SMU has clinched at least a .500 season for the first time since 2004-05 (14-14).
- SMU won at Houston for the first time since Nov. 27, 1999. Had lost 5 straight.
- SMU had a season-high 13 steals, which is also the most ever for SMU in a Conference USA game; 6 different Mustangs had at least a steal.
- SMU has 213 team 3FG (6 at Houston) this season, 2nd all-time at SMU for a single season (record is 215 in 2006-07)
- SMU shot 56.8 percent from the field; now 15-2 when shooting better than its opponent and 8-2 when shooting better than 50%

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Papa Dia
- Scored 27 pts; one off his season-high (28 vs. Lamar)
o Is now 18th all-time at SMU in career points (1257)
o Scored 20+ points for 12th time this season
o Reached double-digits for the 23rd time this season
- Was 12-18 on FG, now shooting .595 on the season; the 12 FGs is a career-high
- Grabbed 7 rebounds
o Is 6th at SMU in career rebounds (797) - Had 2 blocked shots
o Has 55 blocks this season, 9th at SMU for a single season
o Is 6th at SMU in career blocks (120) - Is now T-12th in career games played (114)

Ryan Harp
- Had season-highs of 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot
- Also had 2 points and 2 rebounds

Robert Nyakundi
- Scored 16 points
o Reached double-digits for the 20th time this season
- Was 4-6 on 3FG, now shooting .465 (74/159) on the season
o Has made 74 3FG this season, T-5th in a season at SMU
o Has 160 made 3FG for his career, 6th at SMU
- Was 2-2 on FT, now shooting .883 (53/60) on the season
- Had a career-high tying 6 assists
- Had a career-high 5 steals, the most by an SMU player this year and the second-most by an SMU player in a Conference USA game

Jeremiah Samarrippas
- Scored 7 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists
- Went 1-2 on 3FGs, is shooting 41.8 percent (33-79) which is 2nd by a freshman at SMU

[ponyscott]

This win was a big deal for the boys and has really created alot of talk on all the boards...