Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kevin M Cox/AP/Shutterstock (13699433h) Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU, in Houston SMU Basketball, Houston, United States – 05 Jan 2023
Cougars eat SMU’s soul in 87-53 victory
The Houston Cougars made quick work of the SMU Mustangs on Thursday night, jumping out to a 28-2 lead en route to an 87-53 win over the Ponies. The Cougars ran their record to 15-1 and put themselves in position to return to No. 1 in the rankings if they can knock off Cincinnati on Sunday.
The Cougars used every key player on the roster for a huge win. Freshman superstar Jarace Walker scored 23 points to lead the Cougars to an easy victory.
Marcus Sasser added 14 and J’Wan Roberts had 11, while Javier Francis added eight points and six rebounds as the Cougars rolled.
The Cougars have been monsters all year. But Thursday night was a typical conference win. They took SMU’s soul.
That’s what these Cougars do; they beat mediocre teams in ugly ways. That’s what they did to an SMU team that simply did not have enough weapons.
The Cougars had a second team that outplayed SMU as well. They have done that a lot. That’s what happens when you are this good.
It’s amazing how great this team Kelvin Sampson has built. Sure, the starters are awesome. But off the bench, Francis (8 points), Terrance Arceneaux (10), and Emmanuel Sharp (6) have built a group that can cause all kinds of problems. That’s why this team is a Final Four contender. That’s why they have a lot of games ahead of them like this.
The Cougars will suck the life out of a bad team. That’s what they did to SMU.
That’s who they are.
