In his last game at Moody Coliseum, senior Bamba Fall hit two free throws in the final minute give the Mustangs a 67-65 win over Southern Miss University on Wednesday.
It’s the first time SMU has won on senior night since 2003 and the second time since 1996.
“I think we grew up a little bit tonight,” said Doherty. “We’ve lost these games before, and to hang on and win will give us some confidence.”
The Mustangs play their last game of the season at the University of Houston at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
With leading scorer Paul McCoy out with early foul trouble, Mouhammad Faye and Derek Williams stepped up to lead the Mustangs. Faye hit two 3-pointers and went 3-of-4 from the free throw line on his way to scoring 13 points in the first half.
Towards the end of the half, Williams slashed through the lane for a layup to give SMU a 42-28 lead.
Midway through the second half, Southern Miss cut SMU’s lead to seven points, but Faye hit a three moments later to extend the Mustangs lead back out to double digits. The Golden Eagles would not go away, however. Jeremy Wise continued to heat up for Southern Miss as the game went on, scoring five straight points to bring the score to 55-49. Wise scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half to rally the Golden Eagles at the end of the game.
With two minutes left, Wise made a free throw to convert a three-point play that brought SMU’s lead down to one point. A minute later, after a Derek Williams jumper, Southern Miss’s Craig Craft got a 3-pointer to roll around the rim and fall through the net to bring the first tie since the start of the game.
Head coach Matt Doherty called a quick timeout to draw up a plan for the Mustangs, and when Bamba Fall grabbed the offensive rebound of a missed shot he was fouled and went to the line to seal the win. After Fall’s free throws, Southern Miss attempted a last second three point attempt but it bounced off the rim and the game was over.
“It was my last game here, and to step up and make those free throws… it felt good,” said Fall. “I am happy to win the last game.”
