Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Pat Swilling, Jr. scored 18 points, including
the game-winning 3-pointer with four seconds left, as the Tulsa Golden
Hurricane took down the SMU Mustangs, 48-47, in Conference USA action at Moody
Coliseum.
Swilling, Jr. was just 6-of-17 from the field, but all six of those makes came
from 3-point range for Tulsa (9-6, 1-0 C-USA), which has won back-to-back
games. Scottie Haralson chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds for the
visitors.
For SMU (10-6, 0-1), Jalen Jones had 15 points, Cannen Cunningham netted 12
points, and Nick Russell tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and
three steals.
Although the game was tight through the first nine minutes, Tulsa ended the
first half on a 25-8 run to take a comfortable 34-17 lead into intermission.
The Golden Hurricane shot 44.8 percent from the field in the opening 20
minutes while holding the Mustangs to just 6-of-24 shooting (.250).
The script was flipped in the second half, with SMU making 45 percent of its
field goal attempts and Tulsa shooting a lowly 23.1 percent. The Mustangs
overcame their double-digit deficit to take a 44-42 lead with 4:01 left to
play on a pair of Cunningham free throws. Down by four with under 30 seconds
to play, Tulsa got a 3-pointer from Haralson. The Golden Hurricane then sent
SMU to the foul line, where Russell made 1-of-2, and their final possession
was capped off by the go-ahead trey by Swilling, Jr. A Russell 3-pointer did
not fall at the buzzer and Tulsa escaped with the win.
Although SMU held a commanding 17-2 advantage at the foul line, it was 0-of-13
from beyond the arc.
GAME NOTES:
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