SMU defeats Fullerton 110-63
SMU Dominates Fullerton in Statement Win
In a statement victory, the SMU Mustangs proved their strength on both ends of the court, cruising to a 110-63 win over visiting Fullerton at Moody Coliseum.
The home team's dominance was evident from the outset, as they led 51-19 at halftime. The 32-point gap between the two teams set the tone for the rest of the game, with SMU eventually building its largest lead of 49 points in the second half.
B.J. Edwards paced the Mustangs with 21 points, including 3-5 three-point shooting and an impressive 80% field goal percentage. Samet Yigitoglu chipped in with 12 rebounds and 11 points, while Boopie Miller contributed 14 points and 12 assists to lead SMU's balanced attack.
Fullerton struggled to find its footing, shooting just 32% from the field and converting only 30.8% of its three-point attempts. Joshua Ward led the Titans with 16 points but was unable to lead his team to a comeback victory.
The Mustangs' strong defensive play was a major factor in their win, as they held Fullerton to just 44 total points after halftime. SMU's high turnover rate, however, allowed Fullerton some opportunities to stay in the game. Despite this, the Mustangs' superior shooting and rebounding ultimately proved too much for the Titans.
Fullerton's struggles on offense were compounded by their inability to contain SMU's fast break attack. The Mustangs converted several easy baskets on the other end of the court, further expanding their lead and all but sealing the game.
In a non-conference matchup, SMU made a strong statement with its convincing win over Fullerton. The Mustangs' balanced performance and defensive prowess will be key in determining their success this season.
Box Score
SMU
* Field Goals: 41/77 (53.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 27/46 (58.7%)
* 3-Point FG: 14/31 (45.0%)
* Free Throws: 14/19 (74.0%)
* Rebounds: 49
* Assists: 30
* Turnovers: 11
* Steals: 10
* Blocks: 7
Fullerton
* Field Goals: 20/62 (32.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 12/30 (40.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 8/32 (25.0%)
* Free Throws: 15/22 (68.0%)
* Rebounds: 36
* Assists: 14
* Turnovers: 19
* Steals: 7
* Blocks: 4