Dion Dowell scored 19 points and Robert McIver added 18 as Houston matched its best start since the days of Phi Slama Jama with an 83-69 victory over Kentucky on Tuesday night. Tafari Toney had nine points and eight rebounds and Lanny Smith had eight assists for the Cougars (10-1), who are off to their best start since the 1983-84 team won 10 of its first 11.