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HOUSTON (AP) -- Jarace Walker tied his season high with 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Marcus Sasser added 14 points and a career high-tying seven assists and No. 2 Houston used a big first half to beat SMU 87-53 on Thursday night.

Walker scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the first half as Houston (15-1, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) built a 49-23 halftime lead. The Cougars have won six straight games since their only loss on Dec. 10 against Alabama.

J'Wan Roberts had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Tramon Mark and Terrance Arceneaux both scored 10 points for Houston, which shot 46%, including 10 of 30 on 3-pointers. Houston outrebounded SMU 54-26 and held a 35-6 advantage in points in the paint.

Efe Odigie had 14 points and Zach Nutall added 12 for SMU (6-9, 1-1). Zhuric Phelps, who was leading SMU with 18.4 points per game, finished with six points on 2-of-11 shooting. The Mustangs shot 31%, including 3 of 20 on 3-pointers.

SMU took a 2-0 lead on a jumper by Odigie before Houston dominated from there, scoring the next 24 points over the next seven minutes to take a 24-2 lead on a dunk by Ja'Vier Francis with 12 1/2 minutes remaining. Walker had 11 points during the run.

After making its first shot, SMU missed eight straight shots and committed four turnovers while Houston was on the game-deciding run. The Mustangs shot 28% in the first half.

SMU travels to Central Florida on Sunday.

 

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SMU Postgame Notes – January 5, 2023
[2/2] Houston 87, SMU 53
Houston (15-1, 3-0 American), SMU (6-9, 1-1 American)
Fertitta Center - Houston, Texas
 
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At UCF– Sunday, January 8 – 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT – Addition Financial Arena – Orlando, Florida
TV: ESPNU
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NOTES
 
Starters: #1 Zhuric Phelps (G, So.), #2 Jalen Smith (G, So.), #10 Zach Nutall (G, Sr.), #11 Samuell Williamson (F, Sr.), #23 Efe Odigie (F, Sr.)

• 7^th time using this starting lineup, 5^th straight game

 
SMU had 2 score in double figures: Efe Odigie (14), Zach Nutall (12)
 
20-28 on FTs, season-high for FTs made (was 18)
 
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES
 
Zach Nutall (#10, Sr., G)

• 12 points with an assist and a steal
  • Entered game averaging 14.4 points (13^th AAC), 1.9 threes per game (13^th AAC)
  • 10+ points in 12 of 15 games, 6^th straight
• 2-6 on 3FGs, entered game averaging 1.9 per game (13^th AAC)

 
Efe Odigie (#23, Sr., F)

• 14 points, 5 rebounds
  • Entered game averaging 7.2 rebounds (6^th AAC)
  • 5^th game scoring 10+
• 4-5 on FTs, entered game 76.3% (14^th AAC)

 
Zhuric Phelps (#1, So., G) – AAC Player of the Week on Dec. 26, AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 28

• 6 points, 3 steals, 1 assist
  • Entered game averaging 18.4 points (2^nd AAC), 2.6 assists (15^th AAC), 1.6 steals (7^th AAC)

 
Samuell Williamson (#11, Sr., F) – AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 2

• 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
  • Entered game averaging 7.2 rebounds (6^th AAC), 1.4 steals (10^th AAC), 1.1 blocked shots (7^th AAC)