Final Score: (17) Houston 38, SMU 15

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Case Keenum threw for 233 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 17 Houston past SMU, 38-15, in a Conference USA tilt at Robertson Stadium.

Keenum, who finished with 25-of-36 efficiency, extended his school record with his 23rd straight game with a touchdown pass. He also moved over the 10,000- yard mark for his career and boasts 10,013 passing yards, good for second in school annals (Kevin Kolb: 12,964 yards).

Charles Sims added a career-high 105 yards and two TDs on 15 carries for the Cougars (6-1, 2-1 Conference USA), who won their third in a row. Bryce Beall also had a rushing score, while Patrick Edwards garnered 122 yards and a touchdown on nine grabs.

"They were doing a good job at keeping us from throwing the ball," said Keenum. "They have a really good secondary, but their passing defense opened up the rushing yards for us. We have a few really good running backs that I really don't mind handing the ball off to. The offensive line did a great job of blocking. You have to take what the defense gives you."

Bo Levi Mitchell was knocked out of the game on a sack towards the end of the first quarter and did not return. He was 5-of-9 for 40 yards before the departure. Kyle Padron ended with 141 yards and a TD on 11-of-16 passing for the Mustangs (3-4, 2-1), who dropped their second in a row and fourth in five tries. Shawnbrey McNeal added 95 yards and a score on 15 carries, while Aldrick Robinson had a TD grab in the setback.

Houston got on the board during its second drive of the game. The team started at its own 45, and six plays later Sims broke a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.

Later in the first, the Cougars recovered a fumble at the SMU one-yard-line before Beall punched it in to make it 14-0 with about two minutes left in the frame.

Matt Hogan nailed a 22-yard field goal early in the second, but the Mustangs responded with a 27-yarder on their ensuing touch to make it 17-3.

Keenum then led his team on an eight-play, 68-yard drive that was finished off when Edwards hauled in a seven-yard TD pass midway through the frame, which ballooned the difference to 24-3.

The Cougars wasted no time in putting more points up in the second half, as Tyron Carrier ran back the opening kickoff 92 yards to give the home team a 31-3 cushion.

McNeal, though, had a four-yard TD run early in the fourth and Robinson had a 32-yard TD grab later in the frame. A blocked extra point and botched two- point conversion made it 31-15 with just under 10 minutes left.

Sims had a six-yard TD run late in the fourth to account for the final margin.

"We came in ready to play," said SMU head coach June Jones. "They made big plays in the first half and we didn't catch the ball very well. It's frustrating we all came ready to play, we just really didn't make the plays. We had opportunities to make the plays."

Game Notes

Keenum has thrown a TD in 32-of-34 career games and was last held without a score on November 10, 2007...The Cougars haven't lost at home since a 37-35 loss to East Carolina on September 29, 2007...Houston was playing at home for the first time since clipping Texas Tech (29-28) in a thriller back on September 26th...With respect to the all-time series, the Cougars hold a 15-9-1 edge against SMU.

10/25 01:12:35 ET