UH’s comeback attempt falls short against SMU

Nothing went the Cougars’ way all afternoon. But late in the second half and during a 6-0 run, the end of a seven-game losing streak seemed possible.

But after SMU’s 3-point shot — which nearly hit every part of the rim and backboard before eventually finding the bottom of the net — made it an 18-point game with 10:08 remaining, it shut the door for any kind of attempt at a comeback as UH was defeated 73-60 Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Senior forward Te’Onna Campbell nearly notched a double-double with a team-high 17 points and nine rebounds to go along with a game-high four steals. Senior center Yasmeen Thompson, however, was able to nab a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, including going nine of 12 from the free throw line.

The Mustangs jumped out to their biggest lead of the game, 21, with just more than four minutes remaining, but after a jumper from sophomore guard Alecia Smith and layups by Campbell and Thompson, SMU was forced to regroup with a timeout. Kiarra Perry’s 3-pointer sealed the Cougars’ fate on the ensuing play, prolonging their winless woes in conference play.

“I don’t think we started the game with intensity,” Thompson said. “In the second half we came back, but it’s just little pieces that we still got to work on. … I feel, on defense, we give up too much sometimes.”

The Cougars had trouble in the first half on both sides of the ball, struggling to score from the field (25.7 percent) and not being able to stop the Mustangs’ offensive attack (50 percent).

“I just thought we didn’t show up,” said interim head coach Wade Scott. “We didn’t guard anybody, couldn’t execute on offense, got stagnant and we couldn’t get back in it. I give the credit to SMU. They came out and were ready to play.

“It’s hard to stop somebody when they’re shooting 50 percent.”

The Cougars were able to get some looks in the paint, but just found it too difficult to convert five feet from the basket. Thompson was able to make nine of the team’s 25 free throw attempts. The guards couldn’t get anything going, either, as they shot a mere 15 percent from the field, eliminating any back-court threat and putting pressure on front-court players like Campbell and Thompson.

“I feel we go away from our strengths sometimes. When we first started off, we started shooting, instead of driving. We just need to find a rhythm,” Campbell said. “On defense, we just got to know how to contain and not get too anxious. I feel sometimes we get too anxious to just get a run and score; we go away from containing (the opponent). It kind of messes with us a little bit, and I think we think too much.”

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