Matt Cross had 16 points and 16 rebounds and SMU rallied past LSU 74-64 in the Compete 4 Cause Classic on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.
Samet Yigitoglu and B.J. Edwards scored 12 each and Chuck Harris added 11 for the Mustangs (9-2), who had a 47-31 scoring edge in the second half. All nine Mustangs who played scored.
Jordan Sears scored 21, Dji Bailey had 13 and Cam Carter added 11 for the Tigers (8-2).
Yigitoglu’s basket started the second-half scoring and triggered an 8-2 run that pulled the Mustangs even at 35. LSU’s Vyctorius Miller made a jumper to break the tie, but six SMU players scored during a 16-4 run that produced a 51-39 lead.
Carter made two free throws and a 3-pointer to help the Tigers get within six before Harris made a 3-pointer and the Mustangs rebuilt the lead to 11. LSU closed within 64-59 with 3:51 remaining.
Cross made a free throw, but Carter answered with a basket to trim the lead to four. Yigitoglu made a free throw, but Daimion Collins’ field goal got the Tigers within 66-63 with 1:47 left.
Cross’ field goal pushed the lead to five before Collins made one of two free throws. LSU had a chance to get closer, but Collins missed the front end of a one-and-one. Edwards made two free throws to extend the lead to six with 30 seconds remaining.
Bailey missed a jumper and Yigitoglu added two free throws with 20 seconds left.
LSU scored the first four points of the game before Edwards made a 3-pointer to complete an 11-0 run that gave SMU a 12-5 lead.
Corey Chest’s field goal ended that run and started an 8-0 run for the Tigers. The Mustangs tied the score at 13 before Sears had two field goals to help LSU open a 24-15 lead.
SMU pulled within 28-25 on a 3-pointer by Harris, but Bailey made a 3-pointer and Sears made two free throws to help the Tigers take a 33-27 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
