NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Charles Sims upstaged Case Keenum by running for 199 yards in the first half Thursday, sending No. 11 Houston to a 73-17 mauling of Tulane.
The unbeaten Cougars scored 35 points in the second quarter, came up with two punt returns for touchdowns and got three touchdown throws from Keenum on a relatively quiet night for college football's all-time passing leader.
Keenum boosted his season touchdown total to 37 while completing 21-of-28 passes for 320 yards. He threw nine touchdown passes against Rice two weeks ago.
For the first time in school history, Houston has won its first 10 games of the season. The Cougars are 5-0 in Conference USA's West Division.
After a scoreless first period Sims had touchdown runs of 52 and 72 yards in the second. He finished with 206 yards on just 10 carries.
All three of Keenum's touchdown passes went to Patrick Edwards. They went for 23 yards in the second quarter and for 8 and 66 yards in the third.
Edwards scored on a 70-yard punt return in the second and Isaiah Sweeney returned a punt 76 yards for another Houston score in the fourth.
Tulane, which has lost eight in a row, fell to 2-9 for the season and 1-6 in league play.
