PROVIDENCE, R.I – SMU moved to the top of the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball standings with a 74-65 road win at Tulane on Friday night. It is the fourth-consecutive season that the Mustangs have started American play with a 2-0 record.
Friday, January 4
Senior Jahmal McMurray scored 25 points and SMU never trailed in winning its fourth straight game and eighth of the last nine with its win on Friday night.
McMurray was 5-of-9 from 3-point range and 9-of-15 overall. Ethan Chargois added 14 points and Jimmy Whitt Jr. had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double. On Nov. 29, 2018, Whitt had SMU's first triple-double since 1999.
The Mustangs led 61-45 on Chargois' jumper with 7:57 left in the game. Tulane had a 14-4 run that included seven points in a 21-second span to get the deficit down to six but Chargois answered with a 3-pointer with 2:11 left as the Mustangs held on.
SMU (10-4, 2-0) opened the game on an 8-0 run and led 35-25 at the break. The Mustangs had a 9-0 run early in the second half to take their largest lead at 46-28.
Samir Sehic had 20 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Jordan Cornish added 17 points and Caleb Daniels scored 14 for Tulane (4-10, 0-2).
UPCOMING GAMES