GAME NOTES: The streaking SMU Mustangs play host to the desperate Houston Cougars on Saturday in a American Athletic Conference mismatch.

Houston remains the only team winless in conference play, dropping its seventh straight test with Wednesday's 67-54 loss at Cincinnati. Danrad Knowles knocked down a game-high 15 points and L.J. Rose contributed 11 points for the Cougars, who committed 19 turnovers that led to 31 points for the Bearcats.

Houston actually led at halftime before allowing Cincinnati to shoot 61.9 percent from the field after the break. The Bearcats also made all 13 of their free throws over the final 20 minutes to seal the win.

Leading scorer Jherrod Stiggers shot just 1-of-8 from the field in the setback, lowering his already poor shooting percentage to .350. His 14.8 ppg still leads the way, while Knowles and Devonta Pollard are netting just above 11 ppg.

Houston is averaging 66.8 ppg this season as a team, but the defense has been spotty as a whole, allowing 68.0 ppg to opponents on 42.4 percent shooting. LeRon Barnes leads a group of talented rebounders with 6.6 rpg.

At the other end of the spectrum is SMU, which has rattled off five straight victories and 13 of 14 overall.

The Mustangs, who are second in the conference standings at 6-1, were last in action on Thursday and cruised to an easy 66-52 road win over Tulane. Nic Moore tallied 18 points and seven assists while Yanick Moreira and Markus Kennedy totaled 14 points apiece for the victors.

Moore leads the Mustangs in scoring this season, netting 14.5 ppg with a team- best 97 assists. He is followed in the scoring department by Moreira (11.8 ppg) and Kennedy (10.7 ppg), who round out a trio of active double-digit scorers for the squad. Moreira leads SMU in rebounding, pulling down 6.4 boards per outing. As a unit, the Mustangs are netting 69.7 ppg on an impressive 48.7 percent shooting from the floor, and are holding opponents to just 59.7 ppg.

The series between these programs dates back to 1956, and Houston has won 47 of the 74 matchups. This season, however, the Cougars are in dire straits and the Mustangs are clicking on all cylinders. Expect a blowout win for SMU.