Nov. 4, 2006

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2  | Highlights

HOUSTON (AP) -- Anthony Alridge rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown to help Houston defeat Tulsa 27-10 on Saturday, ending Tulsa's six-game winning streak.

Houston (7-3, 5-1 Conference USA) scored on consecutive drives at the end of the first half and the start of the second half to win its third straight. The Cougars moved past Tulsa (7-2, 4-1) into first place in the conference's West Division.

Houston's Kevin Kolb hit 16-of-21 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.

Paul Smith of Tulsa, who was averaging 210 yards passing a game, managed only 52 yards through three quarters. He finished 16 of 34 for 136 yards - 56 in the last two minutes.

Houston led 7-0 after a 3-yard touchdown run by Alridge on the Cougars' opening drive.

Roshawn Pope fumbled on the first play of Houston's second drive, and Tulsa's Walter Boyd recovered at the nine-yard line. One play later, Courtney Tennial scored to tie the game at 7.

The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, then Kolb hit Vincent Marshall with a 14-yard touchdown pass with five seconds remaining for a 17-10 halftime lead.

Marshall caught four passes for 54 yards to move past Elmo Wright into the all-time Houston lead with 3,359 yards receiving.

Jackie Battle's 1-yard run capped a 10-play, 83-yard drive at the start of the third quarter to give Houston a 24-10 lead with 9:39 to play in the period. Ben Bell's second 24-yard field goal with 2:24 to play finished the scoring.