DALLAS — SMU turned a tight game into a statement win.
Behind a blistering second-half shooting display and another standout night from senior guard Boopie Miller, the Mustangs pulled away from No. 12 North Carolina for a 97–83 victory on Saturday night at Moody Coliseum, opening ACC play with a signature win.
Miller finished with 27 points and 12 assists, his second straight double-double and 22nd consecutive game scoring in double figures. He orchestrated an offense that shot 60 percent from the field and buried 14 three-pointers, matching a season high. Corey Washington added 23 points, including five threes, while B.J. Edwards chipped in 15 points and six assists as five Mustangs scored in double figures.
The teams went to halftime tied at 39, but SMU’s pace and spacing began to stretch the Tar Heels after the break. A flurry of threes — including a step-back from Miller and two from Washington — pushed SMU in front for good, and the Mustangs’ 11–0 run early in the game foreshadowed the pressure they would keep applying. North Carolina, which entered the night allowing just 63.7 points per game, surrendered a season-high 97.
SMU improved to 12–2 overall and 1–0 in ACC play, extending its streak to 12 straight wins in conference openers and moving to 10–0 at home this season under second-year head coach Andy Enfield. The win also marked the program’s first victory over a ranked opponent since 2022.
The Mustangs dominated the paint 36–28, posted 23 assists on 36 made field goals, and outpaced UNC in fast-break points 15–11. Freshman center Jaden Toombs added 12 points off efficient touches inside, while Samet Yigitoglu anchored the back line with two blocks.
North Carolina dropped to 13–2 (1–1 ACC) despite 12 made threes of its own, unable to slow an SMU attack that entered the night as one of the nation’s highest scoring units — and looked every bit the part down the stretch.
