DALLAS, TEXAS — The SMU Mustangs had a chance to boost their NCAA Tournament hopes with a win over Clemson on Saturday night, but the Tigers proved too tough down the stretch, securing a 79-69 victory in the final game of SMU’s regular season.
Playing without their leading scorer and point guard, Boopie Miller, for the third consecutive game due to injury, the Mustangs fought hard in front of their home crowd. Chuck Harris led SMU with 16 points, emerging as the team’s top scorer.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with SMU briefly taking a 30-29 lead with just two minutes left. However, Clemson answered with a late surge, heading into halftime with a 36-32 lead. The Tigers approached the game with a businesslike focus, controlling key moments despite SMU’s relentless energy.
One bright spot for the Mustangs was their dominance on the boards, outrebounding Clemson 39-24. However, turnovers proved costly, as SMU committed 16 compared to Clemson’s nine.
With this loss, SMU’s seeding in the conference tournament is still up in the air. Entering the game as the fifth seed, the Mustangs had limited opportunities to climb into the top four. However, with Wake Forest also losing on Saturday, the battle for a coveted top-four spot will come down to the final stretch.
SMU now turns its focus to the postseason, aiming to make a strong run in the conference tournament and solidify its case for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Next up, the Mustangs will travel to face the California Golden Bears on Wednesday night.
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