TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Andre Owens scored 16 points and Lanny Smith added 15 points as Houston beat South Florida 62-50 on Saturday.
Owens, the Cougars' leading scorer this season, scored five points during a 9-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half to put Houston ahead 27-22 at halftime. Owens rebounded after he was held scoreless for the first time in his collegiate career Wednesday when Houston lost 58-51 at TCU.
Smith helped Houston (12-7, 3-2 Conference USA) build its lead in the second half with eight points as Houston outscored South Florida 14-2 over a six minute stretch to take a 51-39 lead with 6:15 left.
Terrence Leather and Brian Swift both had 10 points for South Florida (8-8, 1-4). Leather, who missed several minutes in the second half after hurting his left ankle, had scored 25 points in each of the Bulls' previous two games.
Houston won for just the second time this season (2-6) on the road. The Cougars' other road victory came Dec. 4 at Lamar.
South Florida has lost four straight. The Bulls' three previous losses came by a total of nine points.
