SMU quarterback Justin Willis (16) dives into the end zone for a touchdown past Houston’s Rocky Schwartz (20) during the first quarter of Sunday night’s game. (John Schreiber)

The Mustangs had a hard time holding on to the ball in the first half against Houston on Sunday night, and that was enough to cost them the game.

Four turnovers led to 17 points for the Cougars, leading to the defeat of the Mustangs 38-28.

SMU’s first turnover, a Justin Willis interception, didn’t come back to haunt the Mustangs as Houston attempted a fourth down and couldn’t convert, giving the ball back to SMU. It was the other three that led to points for the Cougars.

The Mustangs scored on two of their first three possessions of the game to take a 14-7 lead. Willis’ four-yard run was his first rushing touchdown of the season, and the 17-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders was the 41st of Willis’ career, a new SMU record.

But after getting the ball on a Tyler Jones fumble recovery, Willis gave the ball back when he fumbled the ball. This time Houston had to settle for a field goal cutting the Mustangs’ lead to 14-10.

The next two turnovers would be more costly for SMU.

Houston took the next two Willis fumbles into the end zones and took a 31-14 lead into halftime.

The Mustangs fought back in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.

A 51-yard touchdown pass to Zack Sledge on SMU’s first drive of the second half brought the Mustangs to within 10 points. And a 21-yard touchdown again to Sledge brought the Mustangs to within a field goal.

But that was where the offense would stall, and the Houston offense would add insurance points to seal the game.

The Mustangs fall to 1-8 on the season and are winless in five Conference USA games. The next task for SMU will be the Homecoming game against Rice.