DALLAS — SMU leaned on poise, balance and timely shot-making to survive a late Florida State rally, pulling out an 83-80 win Saturday night at Moody Coliseum and continuing its strong start to ACC play.
Jaron Pierre Jr. delivered the biggest punch, pouring in a game-high 28 points and answering every Seminoles surge with a basket that steadied the Mustangs. SMU (15-5, 4-3 ACC) never trailed after halftime and used a pair of late runs to fend off Florida State (8-12, 1-6).
B.J. Edwards added 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists, filling the box score while knocking down three 3-pointers. Boopie Miller finished with 11 points and six assists, extending his double-figure scoring streak to 27 straight games — the longest by a Mustang in nearly a decade.
SMU set the tone early with an 8-0 burst to open the game and followed it with another 7-0 run late in the first half to build a double-digit cushion. Florida State chipped away throughout the second half, but the Mustangs repeatedly responded, including a decisive 7-0 spurt inside the final three minutes highlighted by baskets from Pierre and Edwards.
The Mustangs shot 44.4% from the field and matched Florida State with 10 made 3-pointers, while gaining an edge at the free-throw line. SMU also shared the ball effectively, recording 17 assists on 28 made field goals.
Samet Yigitoglu anchored the interior with 11 rebounds to go along with six points, while Corey Washington chipped in nine points and steady defense as SMU held firm down the stretch.
The win also marked a milestone for head coach Andy Enfield, who earned the 300th victory of his career and continued his strong start in his second season on the Hilltop.
SMU will take its momentum on the road next week, beginning with a ranked matchup at Louisville before returning home to face NC State as the Mustangs continue to build their ACC résumé.
