Boopie Miller scored 23 points as SMU returned home for the first time in 27 days and fended off several comeback attempts in its 99-82 victory over pesky Central Arkansas on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
The Mustangs (10-2) improved to 8-0 at home. They never trailed but were threatened several times before securing the win.
Jaron Pierre Jr. added 21, B.J. Edwards contributed 17 and Samet Yigitoglu finished with 14 and 11 rebounds, as SMU topped 90 points for the sixth time this season and shot a season-best 58.8%.
Ty Robinson led all scorers with 28 for Central Arkansas (5-8), which took its fourth loss against a major-conference foe. Camren Hunter added 19 and Javion Guy-King added 16 for the Bears, who shot 47.5% and hit 12 3-pointers.
After SMU settled for a seven-point lead at halftime, Pierre scored nine points in the opening four-plus minutes of the second half, and his three put SMU up 66-51 with 15:41 left. After Central Arkansas sliced a 16-point lead to 10, Miller hit a layup and a 3 on consecutive possessions to up the lead to 83-66 with 8:43 left
Before pulling away in the second half, the Mustangs appeared headed for a dominant run early in Sunday’s game.
The Mustangs scored 11 straight points in 81 seconds for a 21-6 lead on a basket by Pierre with 15:02 left. Central Arkansas answered with an 11-2 run and trailed 23-17 on a 3 by Harrison Beauchamp with 12:15 left.
SMU scored 13 straight in 2:47 for a 36-17 lead on a layup by Holmes with 9:01 left but Central Arkansas roared back again. Hunter hit two 3s and Robinson sank another in an 18-4 burst that cut the lead to 40-35 with 5:11 left.
Central Arkansas continued to push SMU as Robinson hit two 3s in the final 1:40 to cut the lead to 51-47 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
