Mustangs Outpaced by Cougars at Fertitta Center in Conference Clash
In a recent men's basketball matchup at the Fertitta Center, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs faced a challenging opponent in the Houston Cougars. The Mustangs, unable to secure victory, fell with a final score of 87-53. The SMU Mustangs now stand with an unranked status while the Houston Cougars hold the second rank.
The game saw the SMU Mustangs struggle to find their rhythm against a formidable Houston defense. Despite their efforts, they were outrebounded by the Cougars with a total rebound count of 26 compared to 54 for Houston. The offensive efforts of SMU resulted in 24 points in paint and six second-chance points but were overshadowed by Houston's dominant performance that included 38 points in paint and an impressive tally of 35 second-chance points.
SMU's shooting from beyond the arc was cold, converting only three out of twenty attempts which amounted to a mere fifteen percent success rate from three-point range. In contrast, their free throw accuracy was notably better as they made twenty out of twenty-eight attempts, translating into seventy-one percent from the charity stripe.
Defensively, SMU managed five steals and two blocks throughout the game but this paled when compared to Houston's six steals and five blocks. Additionally, both teams maintained discipline regarding turnovers; SMU had eleven while Houston recorded ten.
Noteworthy performances came from several players on both sides. For SMU, contributions across various aspects such as assists (eight), fast break points (four), and twelve points off turnovers showed moments of competitive play despite being overshadowed by Houston’s more cohesive team effort which included seventeen assists and twenty-one points off turnovers.
Looking ahead for fans of Southern Methodist University Mustangs basketball team: The next challenge awaits them at Addition Financial Arena where they will face off against UCF Knights on January 8th at 2 PM Eastern Time. This upcoming game can be viewed nationally on ESPNU channel two hundred eight for those eager to support their team through every dribble and dunk.