HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston junior quarterback Donovan Smith threw for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass, but it would not be enough in a 43-30 loss to #24/25 Oklahoma State in the Cougars' 2023 home finale inside TDECU Stadium.
 
Smith gave the Cougars a 14-3 lead late in the first quarter with a 60-yard touchdown strike to freshman wide receiver Jonah Wilson and extended that advantage to 21-9 after catching a 28-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV.
 
Late in the game, Smith weaved his way through the Cowboy defense on a 31-yard scoring run to pull Houston to within 36-30 midway through the final period.
 
Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Ollie Gordon II rushed for 164 yards and three second-half touchdowns to lead the Cowboys.
 
Bowman completed 29-of-43 passes and threw touchdown passes of 23 and 21 yards. Brennan Presley caught a career-high 15 passes for 189 yards. His reception total was the second most in a game for an Oklahoma State player - Alex Lloyd caught 16 back in 1949.
 
Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) entered the day in a four-way tie for second place in the conference, one game behind Texas. The Cowboys bounced back from a stunning loss to UCF by outgaining the Cougars 501 yards to 393.
 
Houston (4-7, 2-6) led 23-9 following a safety with four minutes remaining in the second quarter before everything changed. The Cowboys scored 27 unanswered points, highlighted by two 6-yard touchdown runs by Gordon and capped by an Alex Hale 44-yard field goal with 9:45 left in the fourth quarter.
 
TURNING POINT
On the drive following the safety, Oklahoma State's Trey Rucker returnedan  interception 29 yards to the Houston 22. Oklahoma State scored the final 10 points of the first half to cut Houston's lead to 23-19, and the first 17 points of the second half to take control.
 
REMEMBERING 3 FORMER COUGARS
Houston wore a helmet decal with the initials of former Cougars D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu, who were killed in a car accident early on the morning of Nov. 11. A red ribbon was painted at midfield underneath the UH logo with the initials DH, ZM and RO also painted in it.
 
UP NEXT
Houston closes its 2023 season when it meets UCF in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 25. Game time and broadcasting network for that game will be announced soon.
 
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