The Mustangs defeated the Tulane Waves 60-45 Jan. 17, despite uncharacteristically poor shooting and sloppy ball handling, improving the team’s record to 17-0, making the Mustangs the only undefeated Division 1 team in the country.

Markus Kennedy led the Mustangs in points, scoring 13, while also contributing eight rebounds. In addition to Kennedy, Jordan Tolbert and Nic Moore each scored 12 points.

As a whole, SMU performed uncharacteristically poorly. Over the course of the season, SMU has averaged 81.4 points per game, which they fell short of by more than 20 points against Tulane. SMU was further hindered by the 15 turnovers the team committed; nearly three more than the season average. SMU shot a season-worst 40.4 percent, and shot only 10 percent from three-point range.

In the first half of the game, the two teams traded scores back and forth before SMU’s Sterling Brown tipped in a rebound to make the score 15-13. Kennedy and Tolbert each added two points, furthering the Mustangs’ lead to 19-14. Despite turning the ball over 10 times in the first half, SMU managed to lead the game 23-19 going into halftime.

SMU quickly fell behind in the second half, as Tulane’s Louis Dabney made a three-point shot to give Tulane a 28-27 lead. Tulane extended its lead with a break away layup, making the score 30-28, but never led the Mustangs beyond this point.

The Mustangs responded to the two point deficit by going on a 13-4 run, which included two jump-shots and two assists by Nic Moore. Nic Moore added six more points in the last four minutes of the game, furthering the Mustangs’ lead and ultimately helping the team cement a 60-45 victory.

SMU will host Houston Jan. 19 as it hopes to continue its historic undefeated season.