DALLAS — SMU’s high-powered offense nearly erased a late deficit, but the Mustangs came up just short Tuesday night, falling 84-83 to No. 26 NC State at Moody Coliseum.
The loss dropped SMU to 15-7 overall and 4-5 in ACC play, while the Wolfpack improved to 17-6 and strengthened their conference standing at 8-2. The contest matched two of the league’s most explosive scoring teams and lived up to expectations, with both sides trading baskets throughout a tightly contested game.
Senior guard Jaron Pierre Jr. paced the Mustangs with 23 points, marking his seventh 20-point performance of the season. Boopie Miller added 14 points and continued his historic scoring run, reaching double figures for the 29th consecutive game — tying the longest such streak by a Mustang since at least 2000.
SMU again showcased its balanced offensive attack, placing four players in double figures for the 20th time in 22 games this season. B.J. Edwards finished with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Corey Washington chipped in 11 points of his own. Freshman Jermaine O’Neal Jr. provided a spark off the bench with nine points and six rebounds.
The Mustangs shot 47.8% from the field and connected on 12 of 22 attempts from three-point range, but NC State’s perimeter shooting proved decisive. The Wolfpack knocked down 16 three-pointers, capitalizing on 36 attempts to outpace SMU in a game that remained tight until the final possessions.
Miller also directed the offense effectively, recording eight assists as SMU totaled 17 helpers on 32 made field goals. Sophomore center Samet Yigitoglu contributed seven points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, continuing his presence as a rim protector with his 13th multi-block game of the season.
The Mustangs fell to 12-2 at home under second-year head coach Andy Enfield, who now holds a 39-18 record at SMU and 300 career wins overall.
SMU entered the matchup ranked No. 34 in the NCAA NET rankings and fell to 3-6 in Quad 1 contests with the loss. Despite the setback, the Mustangs remain competitive in a crowded ACC race.
SMU will look to rebound Saturday when it travels to Pittsburgh for a conference matchup before returning home to face Notre Dame next week.
