Inside The Mustangs

SMU Drops Pair of Games to FAU, South Florida

Mustangs' fall to fifth place in AAC standings with three games left to play

Taylor Hodges

SMU Drops Pair of Games to FAU, South Florida
SMU Drops Pair of Games to FAU, South Florida /
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TAMPA – SMU’s trip to the Sunshine State didn’t go as it had hoped.

The Mustangs (19-9, 10-5 AAC) saw their six-game win streak come to an end earlier this week in a 80-70 loss to Florida Atlantic (21-6, 11-3). Three days later, the Mustangs helped South Florida (21-5, 14-1) keep its win streak alive, 79-68. The pair of losses were crucial as FAU and South Florida are the two teams above SMU in the AAC standings.

Sunday’s game against the Bulls saw SMU hold a 1-0 for the first 88 seconds of the game, but a three-point shot by Kobe Knox gave South Florida a lead it would never relinquish. The Mustangs shot 33.8 percent from the field, despite out-rebounding and forcing more turnovers than the Bulls (15-8). The Mustangs grabbed 45 rebounds, including 27 offensive rebounds (South Florida had 32 total). SMU’s shooting struggles continued at the free throw line, making only 15 out of 31 attempts while the Bulls made all but three of their 30 attempts.

Ricardo Wright led the Mustangs in scoring with 16 points off the bench. Samuell Williamson had 12 points for SMU and Tyreek Smith and Zhuric Phelps each had 11.

The Mustangs return to Dallas for a pair of home games against UTSA and East Carolina before wrapping up the regular season at UAB.

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Taylor is an award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas. He's covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.