Can the SMU Mustangs Maintain Their Home Court Dominance?
The Southern Methodist University Mustangs edged out a victory against the Florida Atlantic Owls with a final score of 57-52. The Mustangs now stand at an impressive record, while the Owls are left to reflect on their performance. The game, held at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, saw both teams fiercely competing until the last quarter.
The home team's defense was particularly noteworthy as they tallied six blocks and eleven steals throughout the game. On offense, the Mustangs' precision from beyond the arc was remarkable with a three-point shooting percentage of 46 percent. This sharpshooting contributed significantly to their overall field goal percentage of 32 percent. Additionally, free throws were a strong suit for SMU as they successfully made ten out of twelve attempts, translating to an exceptional 83 percent accuracy rate.
SMU's ability to capitalize on turnovers was evident; they scored an impressive 26 points off turnovers compared to just four by the Owls. This disparity showcased SMU's defensive tenacity and quick transition into offense. Moreover, with sixteen assists leading to scores and only nine turnovers themselves, SMU demonstrated effective ball handling and teamwork.
On the other side of the court, despite their loss, Florida Atlantic showed resilience in rebounding with a total of forty-seven rebounds—thirty-two defensive and eleven offensive—compared to thirty-nine by SMU. However, FAU struggled in converting opportunities into points as evidenced by their lower field goal percentage at 31 percent and two-point shot success rate at just 29 percent.
A key factor contributing to FAU's challenges was their higher number of turnovers; twenty-one lost possessions hindered them from establishing rhythm or building momentum against SMU's defense which seemed relentless throughout each quarter.
Looking ahead for Southern Methodist University fans: The next challenge for your team is set against Rice Owls at Moody Coliseum on January 7th at 2:00 PM local time (Central Time). Fans can catch all action live from this venue located in Dallas or tune in for broadcasts scheduled for that day.