Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Boopie Miller is awarded probably the most priceless participant trophy after profitable their sport within the Acrisure Sequence in Palm Desert, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. An energized SMU squad will carry a three-game profitable streak in opposition to up-and-down Virginia within the Atlantic Coast Convention opener for every group on Saturday in Dallas.
The sport is the primary for the Mustangs’ basketball group as a member of one of many nation’s perennial powerhouse leagues, however do not count on SMU (7-2) to wilt within the highlight. The Mustangs lambasted Alabama State 101-72 on Tuesday of their most up-to-date outing. Their two losses got here in opposition to Butler on the highway by 11 factors and in opposition to Mississippi State at house by 5.
Kario Oquendo poured in a season-high 20 factors to steer seven SMU scorers in double figures within the win over Alabama State. Matt Cross added 12 factors and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs whereas Samet Yigitoglu and Chuck Harris scored 12 factors apiece. Yohan Traore and B.J. Edwards every had 11 and Jerrell Colbert hit for 10.
“I believe it is lastly attending to the purpose the place we’re beginning to determine tips on how to play as a group,” Oquendo stated. “You’ll be able to see it from sport to sport. We’re getting higher, and each observe, we’re getting higher. I imagine the extra video games we play collectively, the extra the issues begin coming collectively.”
SMU is second in scoring per sport within the ACC (averaging 87.4 factors) and assists per sport (16) and tied for fifth in field-goal taking pictures (47.3 p.c) and fourth in 3-point taking pictures (36.8 p.c).
The Mustangs lead the ACC in rebound margin (plus-10.9), whole rebound common (44.4 per sport) and offensive rebounds (15.5 a sport) — all in all, a powerful begin to their marketing campaign.
Boopie Miller is the SMU chief in scoring common (15.6 factors per sport) and assists (5.8), with Cross the highest rebounder (7.5 per sport).
The Cavaliers (5-3) head to Dallas after an 87-69 loss at No. 13 Florida on Wednesday within the SEC/ACC Problem. Elijah Saunders scored 19 factors for Virginia whereas Isaac McKneely added 12 factors — all on 3-pointers. The Cavaliers, nonetheless, had no reply for the Florida protection, committing 15 turnovers that led to twenty factors for the Gators.
Virginia led 18-9 early however have been down by 4 at halftime. They received to inside a degree after a deep basket by Saunders within the opening minute of the second half, however that was as shut because the Cavaliers would come.
“Total, I used to be very, more than happy with the primary half,” Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez stated. “I believe that we dealt with adversity effectively. This group is on its approach of turning into who they are going to be. It is painful development, however you develop nonetheless.”
McKneely leads the Cavaliers with 13.1 factors per sport, adopted by Saunders at 10.3. Jacob Cofie is the highest rebounder at 6.4 per sport, whereas Andrew Rohde has a team-best common of three assists.
The groups have met simply as soon as earlier than, with the Cavaliers outlasting SMU 76-73 within the semifinals of the Corpus Christi Problem on Nov. 29, 2013.
–Subject Degree Media
