DALLAS (AP) — Tanner Mordecai set school and conference records with nine touchdown passes — seven coming in the first half — and SMU’s offense exploded for a 77-63 win over Houston on Saturday.
As a point of reference, Houston’s men’s basketball team beat SMU’s 75-61 on Feb. 27.
On the gridiron, their combined 140 points broke the NCAA single-scoring game record for two teams in regulation when Pitt beat Syracuse 76-61 on Nov. 26, 2016 to combine for 137 points.
SMU reached school records with 77 points in a game, 11-total touchdowns, nine passing scored and 433 total yards in the first half.
The Mustangs (5-4, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) scored touchdowns on their first nine drives of the game and didn’t punt until their 10th drive with 5:30 left before the end of the third quarter. Mordecai also had a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:43 before halftime for a 35-21 lead.
The Mustangs needed to keep their foot on the pedal because Houston quarterback Clayton Tune did his best to keep the Cougars (5-4, 3-2) in it, throwing for seven touchdowns and running for another.
Tune joined David Klingler, Jimmy Klinger and Andre Ware in Houston’s seven-touchdowns-thrown-in-game club. David Klingler reached the mark on three occasions in the 1990 season and holds the all-time school record of 11 also in 1990.
Tune missed touchdown number eight when he threw an interception in the end zone down 77-63 with 1:43 left. SMU secured three picks on Tune.
Tyler Lavine’s 15-yard touchdown run with with 5:13 left made it 77-56 and he rushed for a career-high 146 yards.
RECORDS SET OR TIED IN THE HOUSTON-SMU GAME
NCAA Records
Most Points Scored, Both Teams (Regulation)
140, SMU (77) vs. Houston (63)
Most Points Scored by Losing Team (Regulation) (tied)
63, Houston
Touchdown Passes, Half (tied)
7, Tanner Mordecai, SMU
American Athletic Conference Team Records
Most Points, Two Teams
140, SMU (77) vs. Houston (63)
Most Touchdowns (tied)
11, SMU
Most Points, Quarter (tied)
35, SMU (2nd quarter)
Most Points, Half (tied)
56, SMU (1st half)
Most PATs (tied)
11, SMU
American Athletic Conference Individual Records
Touchdown Passes
9 - Tanner Mordecai, SMU
Touchdown Passes, Half (tied)
7 - Tanner Mordecai, SMU (1st half)
Touchdown Responsibility
10 - Tanner Mordecai, SMU (9 pass, 1 rush)
PAT Kicks Made
11, Collin Rogers, SMU
PAT Kicks Attempted
11, Collin Rogers, SMU
PAT Kicks Percentage (minimum 10 attempts) (tied)
100.0, Collin Rogers, SMU (11 of 11)