SMU’s Derrick Roberts (left) drives to the basket past Texas College’s Mike Dale (right) during last night’s game in Moody. (Jonathan Dobin)
On Sunday night the Mustangs proved that height can go a long way in a basketball game.
The Mustangs used 6′ 11″ Donatas Rackauskas and 7′ 1″ Bamba Fall to defeat a Texas College team whose height tops out 6′ 9″ and uses a small offense at all five positions. The Mustangs won the game 79-63.
SMU sported a red jersey, which hasn’t been worn all season long. Head coach Matt Doherty said that it was a “special occasion jersey,” and cited the “50th anniversary of Moody Coliseum,” as a good time to do it. Doherty continued to say that it was also due to the fact that Texas College did not have a road uniform with them.
It was the third game in as many nights for the Steers who came into the game with a 1-10 record, and still have yet to play a game at home.
Fall had no problems scoring in the first half making all six shots he attempted and was 2-3 from the free throw line.
Last week against Paul Quinn College, the Mustangs took over a 20-point lead at halftime and came out flat in the second half. On Sunday night SMU only had a nine-point lead at halftime and came out with something to prove out of the locker room. The 36-27 halftime lead didn’t impress Doherty, “I don’t think we played with great energy the first half.”
Devon Pearson found his stroke in the second frame. Pearson only made one of his seven attempts in the first half, and missed all four three-point attempts. In the second half Pearson made seven of his eight attempts including two three pointers.
But Doherty still isn’t convinced.
“We’re not real sharp yet,” said Doherty, “but I think we’ll get there.”
The Mustangs improved from 40.6 percent shooting in the first half to 61.5 percent in the second half. SMU also found its range from the three-point line, improving from 18.2 percent to 66.7 percent.
Texas College was not as sharp from the three-point line. Out of 19 shots put up by the Steers only two would go in.
Fall matched his career high in points with 17, and also grabbed five rebounds.
Rackauskas scored only six points, but was two-for-two from the three-point line and had a team high 11 rebounds.
Pearson was the stand out, with a team high 19 points, and earned a double-double with 10 rebounds.
The Mustangs will take a break over exam week and will come back on Wednesday the 13th against Prairie View A&M.
