The SMU men’s basketball team played in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawai’i during the same time period that the SMU football team participated in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. However, where the football team finally achieved success, the basketball team could not overcome their own inconsistencies to claim a single victory, finishing last out of eight teams.
The Mustangs played their first game of the tournament against the top seed, No. 20 UNLV. The game was televised on ESPN and the Rebels put on a show, overpowering the Mustangs in the first half to take a dominating lead, 42-19.
Only a late 20-4 run by SMU kept the final score respectable. Senior Derek Williams led all scorers with 18 points and junior Papa Dia chipped in with 10.
The Mustangs played much better in their second game against the College of Charleston, but were again denied victory when the Cougars made the winning basket with 1.1 seconds left in the game. Senior Mouhammad Faye led the Mustangs with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
In their final game against Northeastern, a poor showing in the first half doomed the Mustangs again. SMU managed to get within seven in the second half, but the Huskies scored the next six points to seal the game.
-Stephen Lu, Sports Editor