Boopie Miller’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left lifted SMU to a 54-52 win over Virginia in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Wednesday night in Charlottesville, Va.
The Mustangs (13-4, 4-2 ACC) overcame a five-point deficit with 31 seconds remaining. Miller and Chuck Harris each scored 12 points and Samet Yigitoglu added 10.
The Cavaliers (8-9, 1-5) dropped their fourth straight game and are off to their worst ACC start since opening 1-8 in 2008-09. Blake Buchanan led Virginia with 11 points and 15 rebounds and Ishan Sharma added 10 points.
The Mustangs appeared to be in control midway through the second half, taking their largest lead at 41-33 on B.J. Edwards’ layup.
SMU still led 45-38 with 5:09 remaining after four straight points by Kario Oquendo before going ice cold.
The Cavaliers scored 12 unanswered points for a 50-45 lead, capped by Sharma’s free throws with 31 seconds left.
Edwards’ 3-pointer finally ended the Mustangs’ drought and made it 50-48 with 25 seconds to play.
Sharma’s two free throws with 18.7 seconds left put Virginia up 52-48 before Miller drained a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to make it 52-51.
Taine Murray went to the stripe for the Cavaliers with 7.4 seconds left but missed both free throws.
SMU inbounded the ball with 4.1 seconds on the clock and Miller knocked down the game-winner from the corner.
Virginia shot just 34.6 percent from the field and 15.4 percent (4 of 26) from 3-point range. Isaac McKneely and Andrew Rohde were a combined 2-for-18 from the floor.
The Mustangs completed a season sweep after winning the first meeting in Dallas, 63-51, on Dec. 7.
Virginia scored seven straight points to grab an early 13-9 lead, capped by Sharma’s 3-pointer.
SMU answered with an 8-0 run, including back-to-back layups by Miller, to surge ahead 17-13.
Elijah Saunders scored five points in another 7-0 spurt that put the Cavaliers back on top 25-23 with 1:49 left.
Yigitoglu’s dunk with 19 seconds remaining sent the Mustangs into halftime with a 27-25 lead.
–Field Level Media
