Mustangs Outpaced by Bulls at Yuengling Center in Conference Clash
In a heated conference game, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs fell to the South Florida Bulls with a final score of 68-79. The Mustangs now stand at 0-1 in conference play, while the Bulls have taken an early lead with a 1-0 record.
The SMU Mustangs faced a tough opponent in the South Florida Bulls at the Yuengling Center. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure victory, trailing behind with 68 points against the Bulls' more robust tally of 79. The first half concluded with SMU scoring 26 points to USF's 34. However, it was during the second half that USF solidified their lead by adding another 45 points compared to SMU's improved but insufficient additional 42.
The Mustangs struggled from beyond the arc, converting only five out of twenty attempts for a three-point percentage of just twenty-five percent. Their field goal percentage stood at thirty-four percent as they made twenty-four out of seventy-one attempts. From within close range, they managed nineteen baskets on fifty-one two-point attempts which translated into thirty-seven percent shooting.
SMU showed tenacity on rebounds grabbing forty-five in total; however this did not translate into sufficient offensive output as evidenced by their overall performance. They excelled particularly in second-chance opportunities where they scored thirty-nine points thanks largely to their impressive offensive rebound count of twenty-four.
Free throws were another area where SMU could not capitalize effectively; fifteen free throws were made from thirty-one attempts resulting in a forty-eight percent completion rate which left valuable points off their total scorecard.
Defensively speaking, steals were high for SMU as they recorded nine takeaways from USF and blocked one shot throughout game time but these efforts did not culminate into turning around the tide against them during this encounter.
Looking ahead for Southern Methodist University fans: The next home game will be held at Moody Coliseum located in Dallas against UTSA Roadrunners scheduled for March 2nd at 2:00 PM Central Time Zone and can be watched on ESPN+. This presents an opportunity for redemption and showcasing resilience after this setback against South Florida Bulls.