A week after giving up 44 points to SMU on nine turnovers, UH scored 31 on 6 UTEP turnovers in route to a 45-35 victory Saturday.
Though the game tightened up late, the Cougars never trailed because of a strong first-half performance by the defense. In the second quarter, senior corner D.J. Hayden intercepted two passes, taking one of them 97 yards for a touchdown. It was Hayden’s second trip to the end zone, after scoring on a 75-yard interception return last week.
UH got its running game restarted as redshirt junior running back Charles Sims went over the century mark in the first half. He finished with 119 yards on 12 carries.
Sims carried the ball only two times in second half. Redshirt sophomore quarterback David Piland played the entire game throwing for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
