Mustangs overcome 15-point halftime deficit to keep win streak going and remain tied with Cincinnati in the conference.
The SMU Mustangs wanted to avoid a letdown after recording the win against Cincinnati on Sunday. SMU rallied back from a 15-point halftime deficit to keep its win streak going at nine games, defeating Tulane 80-75.
The Green Wave jumped ahead 42-27 at halftime. Tulane tried hanging onto its lead, but the Mustangs closed the gap. SMU took over the for good with more than nine minutes left in the game.
Tulane stayed in the game thanks to its three-point shooting. The Green Wave shot 11-for-27 from the perimeter. Tulane’s leading scorer Cameron Reynolds had one of his best games of the season, recording 23 points, including 5-for-9 from three.
SMU got back into the game thanks to the scoring being spread around. Five players finished the night in double-figures. Jarrey Foster had the best night for SMU as he scored 19 points, while Semi Ojeleye finished with 18. SMU now has nine straight victories and remains undefeated at home this season at 16-0.
The win against Cincinnati Sunday was important for SMU as it placed them in a tie for first in the AAC. Because of this, SMU cannot afford to lose down the stretch, especially since Cincinnati also won Wednesday night.
Tulane came into the game with just one win in conference and four overall for the season. They have a coach in Mike Dunleavy Sr. who hasn’t been on the sidelines since 2010. The Green Wave visited Dallas with nothing to lose and gave SMU a big scare. Wednesday’s game should serve as a wake up call for the Mustangs. They still have four conference games left, including a tough road test this Saturday at Houston.
SMU needs to win out if they want to improve their standing with the selection committee and get a better seed in the NCAA tournament. The loss for Tulane was the ninth in a row. They haven’t won a game since Jan. 11 versus USF. They head back home Saturday to face USF again.