Mustangs Outpace Mean Green in a Close Encounter at Moody Coliseum
The Southern Methodist University Mustangs edged out the North Texas Mean Green with a nail-biting 71-68 victory. The Mustangs now stand with an unblemished record, while the Mean Green's tally shifts to an even split. The home advantage at Moody Coliseum seemed to play its part as 5,742 spectators witnessed a game that was closely contested throughout, with only two lead changes and no ties.
The SMU Mustangs showcased their defensive skills by blocking six shots and stealing the ball 12 times from their opponents. Their offense was equally impressive, converting 53 percent of their two-point attempts and maintaining a solid field goal percentage of 48 across the game. The team's free throw performance stood at 68 percent, contributing significantly to their narrow three-point margin of victory.
On the other side of the court, the North Texas Mean Green put up a resilient fight. They managed to sink an impressive 52 percent from beyond the arc and maintained an overall field goal percentage of 46. Their free throw accuracy was noteworthy at 80 percent; however, they only made it to the line five times during play.
The Mustangs' ability to capitalize on turnovers was crucial; they scored 12 points off turnovers compared to ten by UNT. Both teams had identical second-chance points at 14 each but SMU's fast break efforts yielded ten points which were pivotal in such a close contest.
Rebounding played a key role in this matchup as well; SMU outrebounded UNT by six boards overall with significant contributions coming from offensive rebounds where they led fourteen to nine. This edge provided them additional scoring opportunities which ultimately helped seal their win.
As for individual performances, several players stepped up for SMU but it was their collective effort on assists that stood out as they nearly matched UNT's count despite having one less turnover than their rivals.
Looking ahead for fans of Southern Methodist University Mustangs basketball team: your next opportunity to support your squad will be when they take on Tulane Green Wave at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans on February 15th at approximately noon local time (6:00 PM Central Time). This away game will be broadcasted online via ESPN+, ensuring you won't miss any action from this upcoming conference clash.