Houston, TX -- (Sports Network) - Tafari Toney scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping lift the Houston Cougars to a 73-68 Conference USA win over the UCF Knights at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Lanny Smith scored a season-high 16 points for Houston (22-7, 11-4 C-USA), as the Cougars lock up the third seed for the upcoming conference tourney. Robert McKiver added 15 points in the win.

Mike O'Donnell paced UCF (16-13, 9-6) with 19 points, while Jermaine Taylor scored 16, and Dave Noel finished with 11 points, eight assists and six boards.

The first half featured seven ties and seven lead changes, as the teams entered the half entrenched in a 31-31 tie.

UCF committed 17 fouls in the second half, as the Cougars sealed the win by going 18-for-23 from the foul line in the frame.

Houston was guilty of only eight turnovers in the game, while UCF committed 14.