The men’s swimming and diving team placed second behind Louisiana State University at the 2009 Cougar Classic Nov. 20-22 in Houston.

SMU finished the three-day meet with a total of 687 points, but the Tigers more than doubled that score with 1,448 points.

After placing third behind LSU and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas each of the first two days, the Mustangs followed with strong performances by junior Matthew Culbertson and senior Pontus Renholm to secure runner-up status.

Culbertson won three diving events in as many days, beginning Friday, Nov. 20, with a score of 355.85 in the one-meter event. He then won the three-meter event Saturday (385.30) before taking the platform dive on Sunday (318.50).

Renholm helped the team finish just two seconds behind UNLV in the 400-yard relay on Friday (3:19.29) and won the “A” heat in the 200-yard freestyle event Sunday (1:47.75).

SMU will travel to Austin this week for the University of Texas Invitational. The competition starts Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.