After trailing for most of the first half and seeing an 11-point second-half lead evaporate, SMU pulled away in the last four minutes to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 69-58.
The Mustangs shot 35.6% and went 4-for-16 from 3-point range but shot 23-for-28 from the foul line to grab the win.
Boopie Miller paced SMU (2-0) with 14 points despite shooting just 2-for-14 from the floor. Corey Washington added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Samet Yigitoglu paired 12 points with 10 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr. also scored 12 for the Mustangs.
SMU stretched out to a 49-38 lead on a Yigitoglu jumphook but saw Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rally to pull even at 53-53 on a 3-pointer from Sheldon Williams with 4:19 to play.
But Williams’ bucket was followed by a drought of over three minutes from the floor, while SMU went 8-for-8 from the foul line during that slump to pull away.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-1) was led by Williams’ 14 points and 17 rebounds, with eight coming at the offensive end of the floor. Guard Kam Parker added 12 points and five boards.
The Islanders held control early, with a 3-pointer from Parker establishing a 20-12 lead with 10:37 left in the opening half. SMU rallied to claim a 27-25 lead on a Miller jumper with 4:10 left in the half and led 32-28 at halftime.
The Islanders shot just 28.8%, including 8-for-29 from 3-point range. They were 12-for-18 at the foul line, with four misses in the last four minutes.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi returns to action on Saturday at Tarleton State ahead of a trip to No. 19 Kansas on Tuesday. SMU next plays at home Tuesday against Murray State.
