Mustangs Edged Out by Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena in Close Contest

In a closely contested game at Desert Financial Arena, the SMU Mustangs faced off against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The final score reflected the tight nature of the match, with 76-74 favoring the home team. The Mustangs now hold a record of 0-1, while the Sun Devils improve to 1-0.

The SMU Mustangs started strong, leading at halftime with a score of 40-36. Their offensive efforts were led by their ability to dominate inside, scoring 42 points in the paint compared to Arizona State's 22. The Mustangs also showcased their rebounding strength with a total of 44 rebounds; defensive boards accounted for 31 and offensive for an additional 12.

Despite these efforts, turnovers proved costly for SMU as they gave up possession on fifteen occasions which allowed Arizona State to score eight points off these turnovers. In contrast, Arizona State managed to keep their turnovers low at eight and capitalized by scoring fourteen points from these opportunities.

Arizona State's defense was formidable; they blocked five shots and recorded ten steals throughout the game. Their free throw accuracy was notable as well – sinking an impressive thirty-two out of forty-three attempts which contributed significantly to their narrow victory over SMU.

The Mustangs' shooting from beyond the arc struggled as they made only six out of twenty-one three-point attempts. Free throws were also an area where improvement could be seen since only ten out of nineteen attempts found their mark.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate seeing more from this resilient SMU team when they take on Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee on December seventeenth at eight PM Eastern Time. This upcoming game will be broadcasted nationally on ACC Network channel six hundred twelve for those who wish to follow along and support their team from afar.