Can the SMU Mustangs' Dominant Paint Performance Pave Their Way to Victory?
The Southern Methodist University Mustangs showcased a commanding performance against the Rice Owls with a final score of 95-69. The Mustangs improved their record to an impressive tally, while the Owls faced another setback in their season's campaign.
At Tudor Fieldhouse, home of the Owls, it was evident from tip-off that the Mustangs came prepared to dominate. The first half ended with the Mustangs leading by three points, but it was in the second half where they truly took control of the game. With an outstanding shooting accuracy from two-point range at 72 percent and an overall field goal percentage of 57 percent, they outpaced their opponents significantly.
The offensive prowess displayed by SMU was matched by their defensive efforts. They managed to block three shots and steal possession ten times over the course of play. These defensive plays were crucial in maintaining momentum and disrupting Rice's rhythm.
A key aspect of SMU's victory was their ability to capitalize on turnovers; they scored 21 points off turnovers compared to Rice's mere two points. Additionally, SMU excelled in fast break situations scoring 14 fast break points which kept pressure on Rice throughout the game.
SMU also dominated inside scoring a remarkable 50 points in paint which underscored their physical presence and inside dominance against Rice who managed only 20 paint points. This inside strength was further highlighted by securing more rebounds than Rice; with a total rebound count at 39 for SMU versus just 25 for Rice.
Another notable statistic for SMU was their assist-to-turnover ratio which stood at an impressive eight; this indicated smart ball-handling and effective distribution as they tallied up a total of 24 assists during playtime.
On top of that, second-chance opportunities were seized upon by SMU who scored sixteen second-chance points thanks largely due to twelve offensive rebounds grabbed during critical moments within this matchup between conference rivals.
Rice did have moments where they shined particularly from beyond arc hitting ten three-pointers at a rate of forty percent but ultimately it wasn't enough against such comprehensive performance put forth by visiting team from Southern Methodist University whose own long-range efforts resulted into ten successful three-point shots made out thirty-four percent shooting accuracy from deep range territory.