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Moody crowd, students camping out for tickets help propel ÃÛÌÒ½´to win over Houston

Ben Moore

By BILL NICHOLS
Staff Writer - The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK — ÃÛÌÒ½´players had a long plane ride home after Sunday’s loss to Temple.

But their moods improved after arriving on campus and seeing students camped in front of the ticket office.

On Wednesday night, the Mustangs made it worth the wait. They showed their gratitude by winning the game those fans so wanted to see.

The Mustangs’ 68-64 victory over Houston increased their home winning streak to 14 games, third longest in school history. Their fifth sellout at Moody Coliseum matched the school record set in 1984-85.

By improving its record to 21-6 overall and 10-4 in the American Athletic Conference, ÃÛÌÒ½´also inched closer to a possible NCAA Tournament bid.

“At Temple, it was tough,” guard Ryan Manuel said. “Playing at Moody is a great experience. It helped us tonight.”

This one did not have the significance of beating a ranked team, which ÃÛÌÒ½´has done three times in the eight games at renovated Moody. Nor was it a dominating performance, which has become a home staple.

With former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura sitting courtside and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban smiling to the in-house video crew, the Mustangs were overmatched in Q-ratings.

Rapid Reaction: ÃÛÌÒ½´bounces back from loss to Temple with key home win over Houston, 68-64

By EJ Holland
Associate Editor - Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

How it happened: It was a slugfest for most of the game, but ÃÛÌÒ½´was able to bounce back from a terrible loss to Temple with a 68-64 win. Houston controlled most of the first half while SMU’s key big man Markus Kennedy sat early because of foul trouble. SMU, however, made a run take a 32-30 lead into halftime. The game stayed close in the second half, but the Ponies pulled away late thanks to tight defense and some key plays made by Nic Moore and freshman Keith Frazier, who finished the night with seven points and four assists. Moore led ÃÛÌÒ½´with 16 points while Ryan Manuel, Ben Moore and Shawn Williams all added eight a piece.

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Nic Moore

Shawn Williams

Markus Kennedy