Second Half Blitz Propels SMU Past ECU

Wednesday, January 2

Dallas, TX

8 PM

East Carolina University

7-6, 0-1

SMU

9-4, 1-0

ECU

SMU

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

January 02, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DALLAS – Five players scored double digits to lead SMU to an 82-54 victory over ECU inside Moody Coliseum Wednesday in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Jahmal McMurray led the Mustangs (9-4, 1-0) with 20 points, Jimmy Whitt added 17 and Nat Dixon and Isiaha Mike each scored 11 points with Ethan Chargois netting 10 points. Feron Hunt came off the bench to scored six points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Mustangs closed the first half on a 20-7 run to take a 35-25 halftime lead, making 9-of-12 after starting the game 6-of-17. McMurray scored the final two points of the first half and then the first seven of the second half as SMU doubled its lead in the initial three minutes out of the locker room.

McMurray made a trio of 3-pointer in the first three minutes of the second half to help the Mustangs build a 50-26 lead less than four minutes into the period. SMU's advantage ballooned to 30 with 11:00 to play before settling with a final margin of 28.

"I've done this a long time and that's about an interesting a start to the second half as I've ever seen," ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley said. "They made a run and we didn't respond."

SMU opened the second half by making 7-of-13 of its field goal attempts, while holding the Pirates to 1-of-13 shooting. The Mustangs finished the game shooting 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the floor, while ECU (7-6, 0-1) made just 19-of-56 (.339).

Jayden Gardner led ECU with 16 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Foster added 11 points off the bench.

The Pirates return to action Saturday, Jan. 5, against reigning American Athletic Conference champion Cincinnati inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. with a limited number of lower bowl tickets available for $5.