Game Preview: SMU vs. Houston

The Mustangs (12-10, 2-5 C-USA) will take on the Houston Cougars (13-7, 2-5 C-USA) at 2:00 PM today in Moody Coliseum. Houston has lost 5 of their last 6 games since defeating the Mustangs 78-67 on January 9th at home, a game they came into with a 12-2 record.

SMU returns home after a 3-game road trip in which they went 1-2 against UTEP, UCF, and Marshall. They lost the first two games to UTEP and UCF by 9-points each. This past Wednesday, SMU defeated Marshall 68-57 led by Jalen Jones' 19 points and 8 rebounds.

Saturday's meeting with Houston will be the Mustangs first game in Moody since January 16th when they lost to Southern Miss 74-70. SMU is 6-3 at home this season, while Houston is 3-4 in away games.

The Cougars are led by redshirt sophomore guard Joseph Young, who averages 16.8 points per game and is shooting a scorching 40.6% from behind the arc. Sophomore forward #35 TaShawn Thomas averages a double-double with 15.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, Houston averages 76.5 points per game while allowing opponents 70.3.

Balanced scoring and bench contribution will be the key for the Mustangs if they want to knock off Houston. Led in scoring by Jalen Jones, who is averaging 15.1 points per game, SMU scores 64.2 points per game this season while allowing 61.4 to opponents. Jones is riding a 7-game double-digit scoring streak, while Nick Russell has scored in double-digits in 8 straight contests.

With only four games remaining in Moody Coliseum, as the Mustangs will play their final home game in Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, SMU will be looking to send out their old stadium (in its current configuration) in style. The $47 million renovation to Moody Coliseum is scheduled to be completed in December of this year, just before SMU's first game in the Big East Conference.

We will have live in-game updates throughout Saturday's game action, so stay tuned!