Even after being up by as much as 17 points in the game, the SMU Men’s basketball team still managed to lose a heartbreaker 72-69 to East Carolina at home on Saturday.

The Mustangs had a monster performance from Jalen Jones, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds including six offensive rebounds. Jones was a big reason why the Mustangs jumped out to an 11-point lead at the end of the first half.

That lead was taken away from SMU by ECU with a big play from Akeem Richmond who came off the bench and scored 29 points. Richmond has been tough for teams to stop recently, averaging 21.5 points in his last four games.

Even though the Mustangs saw this lead get taken away from them, the team had a chance to win it at the end. Nick Russell got the Mustangs within four with a dunk with 13 seconds left. Right after, Ryan Manuel stole the ball, passed to Russell, who scored another three to bring the Mustangs within one.

The Mustangs fouled ECU then got the ball with eight seconds left after two Maurice Kemp free-throws and got Cannen Cunningham in position to hit a game-tying three-pointer. Cunningham’s shot did not find the mark and the Mustangs dropped to 3-3 in one possession games on the season.

SMU held a moment of silence before the game for John Ofoegbu, the father of current Mustang Uche Ofoegbu and former Mustang Ike Ofoegbu. The Mustangs wore a black patch with “JO” on it to honor Ofoegbu, who passed away on Wednesday.

The Rice Owls come to Dallas to close out Moody Coliseum for the Mustangs on the season on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Mustangs beat the Owls earlier this season 61-39 in Houston with a dominating defensive performace.