After a depleting 72-60 loss against Toledo Sunday afternoon, the men’s basketball team was eager to get back on the court Tuesday against the Long Island Blackbirds.

The desire to erase Sunday’s defeat was present as five SMU (2-2) players scored in double figures en route to a 74-62 victory before a Moody Coliseum crowd of 2,152.

Forward Brian Morris led the team with 16 points and helped to stop the Blackbirds’ (0-3) 20-6 run to start the second half.

With the score tied at 42, Morris made good on a layup and two free throws to regain the lead for the Mustangs.

He made all 10 of his free throws against Long Island, becoming just the 10th player in SMU history to go perfect on more than 10 foul shots in a game.

“We needed his free throws,” said head coach Jimmy Tubbs, “and he kept giving us a little cushion.”

With 11 rebounds, Morris joined forward Devon Pearson (14 points, 14 rebounds) to give the Mustangs two double-double performances.

“Devon played with a lot of poise,” Tubbs said. “He played like a senior tonight.”

Though SMU led by 16 late in the first half, the offensive output of the Blackbirds’ James Williams (19 points), Aubin Scott (5-for-11, 10 points) and Randy Jones (12 points, four assists) kept Long Island in contention.

“We didn’t start [the second half] with the intensity that I’d have liked,” Tubbs said.

The Blackbirds committed 16 fouls in the second half, setting the stage for SMU to hit 18 of 24 free throws.

SMU also saw three newcomers contribute over 10 points in the game, and Pearson hopes to see more of the same offensive production in the future.

“The [new players] stepped up, and we needed that,” he said.

Morris noted team chemistry as a factor in what he sees as a potent offense.

“If we calm down and run our [plays],” he said, “nobody can stop us.”

The Mustangs now hit the road for a two-game swing against Texas State on Thursday and Oklahoma State on Saturday.