CHAMP CENTRAL
HARTFORD, Conn. - Semi Ojeleye’s put back with 29 seconds left proved to be the game winner for SMU as the Mustangs beat East Carolina 81-77 in the quarterfinals of the Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship.
Ojeleye had a career-high 36 points and 12 rebounds on 12-of-19 shooting and made 11-of-13 free throws. Sterling Brown added 16 points for the Mustangs who shot over 60 percent from the field.
SMU (28-7) built a 24-point lead in the first half after a 28-10 run to close the half and looked in control up 17 with 6:09 to play. East Carolina mounted a furious comeback going on a 21-6 run to pull within two.
East Carolina (15-18) made ten threes in the second half in the comeback led by Kentrell Barkley who made four threes. Barkley scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half to lead the Pirate charge. Caleb White scored 17 points and Elijah Hughes added 15.
The Mustangs looked to have ended the threat after an Ojeleye three and a three-point play by Sterling Brown gave SMU an eight-point lead with two minutes left, but East Carolina got a three from White, layup from Barkley and three from Hughes to tie the game.
After the Ojeleye tip-in, the Pirates had a chance to tie the game but Barkley lost the ball out of bounds. Ojeleye added two free throws to put the game out of reach for SMU.
The Mustangs will play in the semifinals on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.