SMU played Marshall Wednesday night without a dominating 7’1″ Bamba Fall, who broke a bone in the tip of his left ring finger and flew back to Dallas before the game.
SMU has been held under 20 points in the first half just twice before last night’s 52-49 loss, but this was the first time both the Mustangs and their opponent had not reached 20.
When the first half ended, the score was knotted at 18 with neither team shooting over 35 percent from the floor.
SMU (13-12, 2-9) shot just 26.9 percent but was helped by shooting 3-11 from the three-point line. Marshall (10-15, 5-6) shot 34.8 percent from the floor but went 0-9 from the three-point line.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well at all,” said head coach Matt Doherty. “Shooters need to make some shots, and they didn’t.”
But the Mustangs’ offense started to roll in the second half, jumping out to a 28-20 lead early on an 8-0 run. But Marshall wouldn’t go away and kept the SMU lead at eight.
After back-to-back three-point makes by Ike Ofoegbu, the Mustangs couldn’t buy another shot. Marshall was able to return the favor with an 8-0 run of their own and tied the game at 39.
The Mustangs regained the lead with a Derrick Roberts free throw, giving SMU a one-point advantage. The Thundering Herd came charging back with a 9-0 run to regain an eight-point lead.
It was Ofoegbu again who broke the Mustangs’ drought, making a layup to bring SMU to within six.
The Mustangs would make one final push at the end.
Dez Willingham drew a foul while attempting a three-point shot and made each of his three free throws to make the deficit five. A Brian Epps three-pointer brought the Mustangs to within two with just eight seconds left.
But after a Marshall free throw, Willingham’s buzzer-beating attempt for overtime bounced off the rim and out.
Once again, it was Ike Ofoegbu who carried the Mustangs with his seventh double-double of the season.
Ofoegbu, who set a career high in rebounds against Rice with 12, broke his own record in last night’s game with 16 rebounds to go along with his 18 points.
But Ofoegbu couldn’t do it all by himself, and that was the only option he had. The next leading scorer for SMU was Derrick Roberts, who scored eight points in 24 minutes.
Marshall had three players score in double digits. Leading the way was Mark Dorris with 14.
While Ofoegbu continues to put up big numbers, Doherty thinks there is still room for improvement.
“I still want more out of him,” said Doherty, “he has really played great basketball over the last couple of games.”
Doherty expressed dissatisfaction in Jon Killen and Ofoegbu’s lack of vocal leadership on the court.
“We need better communication on the floor,” said Doherty.
The Mustangs will look to communicate better and break a four-game losing streak against 0-11 East Carolina Saturday night at Moody Coliseum.
