SMU Mustangs Dominate the Paint in Commanding Victory Over Tulane Green Wave
The SMU Mustangs emerged victorious against the Tulane Green Wave with a final score of 63-53. The Mustangs' season record now stands at an impressive 17-5, while the Green Wave falls to a challenging 9-13.
From tip-off at Devlin Fieldhouse, the Mustangs set a strong pace, outscoring their opponents in three of four quarters. The first quarter saw them take an early lead with 19 points to Tulane's 10, setting the tone for what would be a game controlled by SMU. Their dominance continued into the second quarter with another solid performance adding 17 points to their tally.
The Mustangs' offensive efforts were matched by their defensive prowess as they held Tulane to just 53 points throughout the game. A key factor in this defensive lockdown was SMU's ability to control rebounds; they amassed a total of 37 rebounds compared to Tulane's 25.
Offensively, SMU showed remarkable efficiency inside, scoring an impressive 42 points in the paint which underscored their tactical focus on close-range shots. This approach was reflected in their two-point shooting percentage which stood at a robust 54 percent.
Contributing significantly to this victory were also second-chance opportunities from which SMU capitalized by scoring an additional 20 points. Despite not having any blocks during this matchup, it did not hinder them from maintaining control over both ends of the court.
The team also demonstrated quick hands and anticipation on defense leading to eight steals and converting these into valuable fast-break opportunities that resulted in nine fast-break points.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for SMU; turnovers were an area that could see improvement as they gave up possession on seventeen occasions but managed to mitigate some damage by scoring fifteen points off turnovers made by Tulane.
On special teams play, free throws made up only seven attempts for SMU but they converted five successfully giving them a free throw percentage of about seventy-one percent – showing effectiveness when given chances at the line.
Looking ahead for fans of The Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs is another opportunity to support their team when they face off against Charlotte 49ers at Moody Coliseum located in Dallas on February eighteen two thousand twenty-four scheduled for six-thirty PM local time. Fans can catch all action live as it unfolds on designated broadcast channels or streaming services available within their region.