Anyone familiar with SMU basketball knows that Houston dealt the Mustangs a crushing blow in last year’s American Athletic Conference tournament. The Cougars ousted SMU 68-64 and all but sealed the deal on SMU’s tournament snub.

Ten months later, the two met again, and SMU settled the score. Nic Moore’s 28 points and school record-tying eight three-pointers stole the spotlight in the Mustangs’ 80-59 romp. Tying the record against Houston was even more satisfying.

“Once we knew we had Houston on the schedule, we thought of what they did to us at the end of last season. That’s been in everyone’s head since the season started,” Moore said.

But the whole team put forth another stellar performance, shooting 51.9 from the field, 55 percent from three and dishing out 24 assists on 27 made field goals. Of course, head coach Larry Brown cared more about his team’s defense, which held Houston to 35.2 percent shooting.

“That’s how we need to play,” Brown said. “If we rebound and defend and don’t turn the ball over, that’s generally the way we’re most successful. We have to be a defensive and rebounding team and take care of the ball because of how shorthanded we are.”

SMU rebounded well against a good rebounding team, grabbing 43 rebounds (13 offensive). The front line of Yanick Moreira, Ben Moore and Sterling Brown combined for 28 of them. Six players also had two or more assists.

Moore’s career day wasn’t the only impressive individual performance. Sterling Brown had 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists without a turnover. In three games since stepping into the starting lineup for Keith Frazier, he is averaging 33 minutes, nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

“Sterling to me is what basketball should be about,” Coach Brown said. “Night in and night out we can never value what’s on the stat sheet, but he’s like that in every practice. When anything he does gets some recognition, I’m thrilled.”

The win moved SMU to 16-4 and 7-1 in conference play. The Mustangs’ next game is Jan. 31 at South Florida.