The SMU men’s basketball team failed to win another Conference USA game last night against Tulane in a 52-67 loss. With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 0-4 in the conference and 6-11 overall, as they continue to fall toward what is now a six-game losing streak.
SMU struggled in the first half against the Green Wave, posting only 27 points to Tulane’s 29 points at half time. The men averaged only 30.4 percent from the field, 25 percent in threes and 50 percent from the line, while their opponent outscored them in two areas.
With the absence of one of the team’s leading scorers, Papa Dia, SMU struggled to get on the board in the first four minutes of play. Locking the score at 0-2 in favor of Tulane, SMU struggled to score any points until 4:30 minutes into the game when Bamba Fall hit a layup.
The Mustangs gained their first lead of the game when Jon Killen sank a three pointer to put SMU up 11-10 with 12:14 left on the clock. SMU managed to hold on to the lead until just over two minutes left when Tulane pulled ahead to win the first half. SMU was ahead 27-26 with 41 seconds left, but could not manage to hold on to the lead.
Shooting 47.8 percent in field goals, 30 percent in threes and 100 percent from the line, the Green Wave rolled over the Mustangs to give them an easy lead through the majority of the first half. SMU took over the board with three seconds left until the buzzer.
The Mustangs came out strong in the second half, gaining a lead one minute into play. A layup by Tulane’s David Gomez tied the score at 34-34 at 16:45 left, until Killen hit another three to put SMU up 37-34 with just over 15 minutes left. SMU held its lead until 9:21 left when Tulane tied the score again before taking the lead for the final time.
Jon Killen tied for the top score with the Mustangs, posting 15 points and five assists, while teammate Fall added 15 points and five rebounds. SMU got only 12 points from its bench, with Alex Malone leading with five points.
The Mustangs finished the game falling to only a 31 percent success rate in field goals, and shooting 27.3 percent in threes, and 66.7 percent from the line. Tulane won the game averaging 48 percent in field goals, 33.3 percent in threes and 64.7 percent in free throws.
The Mustangs will play again on Jan. 26 in Moody Coliseum against Central Florida.
