The unpredictable University of Houston Cougars roared into Commerce in a torrential downpour, manned their water wings, and stayed long enough to hand the Lions their second straight conference set-back, 18-7. Anxious to try their new combination of coaches and players on the team which had defeated them twice before in conference play, the Cougars were ready for the game mentally and physically. Coach Clyde Lee from the University of Tulsa and his aide Albert Simmons had waited for this chance. Completely at home in the raging elements, the visitors put chains on their powerful T-model and chugged merrily up and down Lion Field to gain the victory they sought. With a high octane quarterback, Alan Neveux, furnishing most of the offensive fuel, the Cougars displayed an amazing ground game despite the mud, chalking up 13 first downs and 315 yards rushing. Houston took the lead in the initial stanza when Neveux plunged over from the one yard line. His conversion try was no good. The Lions' offensive finally got rolling in the second period and paid off in points when Bobby Wilkinson sent a six yard aerial across the double stripe into the waiting arms of end Ray Robinson. Griffin converted to give East Texas a 7-6 half time lead. Only a handful of fans were on hand to see the Cougars score in each of the remaining periods, putting the game on ice. Reserve back Bobby Campbell started the scoring ball rolling in the third stanza with a 67 yard wade to touchdown country. Early in the final quarter the flashy Neveux, operating from the man-up-under position, kept the ball on a sneak and sloshed 35 yards unmolested to round out the scoring.