Senior Ike Ofoegbu said he will try and pursue a career in professional basketball after he graduates this May. (Danny Wilderotter)

The Mustangs have the pleasure of finishing the season at home; the only problem is that they will be playing the Memphis Tigers, who defeated the UTEP Miners last night to remain undefeated in Conference USA.

When the Mustangs traveled to Memphis earlier in the season the Tigers dominated SMU, winning by 35 points.

The Mustangs got a much-needed break yesterday as head coach Matt Doherty used the scheduled practice time to go over game video.

Doherty made the decision partly to give a team that has played with a short bench for the last five games rest and to heal some injuries.

After Wednesday night’s game, Doherty said that the trainer’s report told him that Devon Pearson’s knee was sore, but okay, and Derrick Robert’s knee was swollen and a little irritated. Doherty feels more confident in Pearson’s ability to play in Saturday’s game than in Roberts’.

“Memphis is really, really good,” said Doherty. “We felt bad getting beaten the way we did, but they do that to a lot of teams in our league.”

The problem in the last matchup was slowing down the Memphis offense, which shot more than 60 percent from the field and from the three-point line.

“We have to play our best game and they have to play one of their worst games,” said Doherty. “And if that happens, we have a chance.”

Pearson returned to the SMU lineup on Wednesday, but Bamba Fall will not be back on the roster for the season finale.

The Mustangs will look once again to Ike Ofoegbu to have a big game when they need it. Ofoegbu’s streak of five double-doubles in a row ended on Wednesday, but he scored his second highest point total with 29 points.

“[Ofoegbu’s] playing great; he’s become a star on this team and a really good player for SMU,” said Doherty.

Ofoegbu and the Mustangs will end the season against Memphis Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Moody Coliseum.