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Sports

Houston plows through SMU

Ramon Dyer electrifies crowd with high flying antics in 69-57 win

by CHRIS ELLIOTT
The Daily Cougar

There are usually three methods used in basketball to excite a drowsy crowd. The most effective method, which typically results in something known by the sports world as "posterization," would be humiliating a defender with a thunderous, two-handed throw-down. Just ask UH's senior forward Ramon Dyer, whose play late in the first half helped lift Houston to a 69-57 victory over Southern Methodist on Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Houston (16-6, 6-3 in Conference USA) had trouble getting anything going, excluding its defense. With 3:08 remaining in the first half, the Cougars held SMU (11-11, 3-6) to a 26.9 field goal percentage, while forcing 10 turnovers. The Mustangs held their own on the defensive end as well, limiting Houston to just 32.3 percent from the field, while forcing two fewer turnovers than their counterparts.

"We played great defense tonight and that was the key," head coach Tom Penders said. "Offensively, the key was to take it right at them, and that's what we did."

The slow, grinding pace of the game, however, would change following a missed shot by junior guard Oliver Lafayette. Dyer would cut to the basket, finishing what his teammate started by rising over two defenders and massacring them with a monstrous two-handed put-back dunk. Dyer, who ended the night with a career high of 25 points, admitted that will not be what he remembers most.

"(The best part) was posterizing their whole team," Dyer said. "I liked the tip dunk especially. It was … nice. It was up there in my top five (dunks). Trying to bring the fans back, and that's what it's about."

Dyer would lead UH on a 6-0 run to close the half, accounting for all points in the final 2:17.

The Cougars would pick up where they left off in the second half, beginning with a 10-6 run, which ended with a lay-up by junior guard Lanny Smith. Smith finished the night with 11 points and two assists, while fellow swingman Lafayette put together a solid performance with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Cougars lead by as much as 24 points in the second half and cruised to victory over SMU, extending their winning streak to six consecutive games.
 

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