Mustangs Gallop Past Green Wave: Can SMU Maintain Momentum?
The Southern Methodist University Mustangs emerged victorious against the Tulane Green Wave with a final score of 87-79. The Mustangs now boast an impressive record, while the Green Wave's record reflects their struggle to find consistency this season. The game was a showcase of tactical execution and individual brilliance, with both teams fighting fiercely until the last buzzer.
The Mustangs demonstrated a strong offensive performance at Devlin Fieldhouse, scoring 37 points in the first half and ramping up their efforts to add another 50 points in the second half. Their shooting accuracy from beyond the arc was notable, as they hit 44 percent of their three-point attempts, contributing significantly to their total score. On two-point attempts, SMU shot at a 40 percent clip.
Defensively, SMU also made its presence felt with seven blocks and eight steals that disrupted Tulane's flow on offense. The team's defensive rebounding was particularly effective; they collected 27 defensive rebounds which limited second-chance opportunities for Tulane.
SMU's teamwork shined through with an impressive tally of 19 assists over the course of the game. This facilitated ball movement and created open shots for teammates. Despite committing 11 turnovers equal to that of Tulane, SMU maintained an assists turnover ratio of 1.73.
In terms of individual performances for SMU, one player fouled out but this did not dampen the team spirit as others stepped up to fill any gaps left on court. Free throws were also key for SMU who made good on these opportunities by converting them at a rate of 74 percent.
On Tulane's side, they managed to block more shots than SMU with eight blocks but fell short in other areas such as steals where they only had one more than SMU at nine total steals for the game. They were slightly better from two-point range making 49 percent but couldn't match SMU’s efficiency from three-point land hitting just four out of thirteen attempts (31 percent).
Tulane did excel in points scored within paint totaling at an impressive number which indicates their strength inside but it wasn't enough against a well-rounded performance by Southern Methodist University.
Looking ahead after this conference victory on foreign hardwoods; fans can catch Southern Methodist University back home when they face off against Memphis Tigers at Moody Coliseum located in Dallas Texas USA (ZIP code:75205). This upcoming contest is scheduled for February 18th starting promptly at three o'clock PM Central Time Zone and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN channel number two hundred six ensuring all fans have access whether attending or watching remotely.