SMU beats No. 21 UConn to sweep series
SMU included a quality roadway win to its currently strong NCAA competition return to.
Nick Russell and Nic Moore each scored 15 indicate lead the Mustangs (22-6, 11-4 American Sports Conference) to a 64-55 win Sunday over No. 21 UConn and a sweep of their season collection with the Huskies.
Markus Kennedy had 13 points and seven rebounds for SMU, which has actually gained 11 of its past 13 games.
" It's not concerning reaching the competition," Kennedy shared." It has to do with obtaining a great seed and making a run for it. We've obtained the Final Four in our city and it need to be a residence ready us.".
The Mustangs likely will reach their protection will certainly lug them. They held UConn (21-6, 9-5) to 16 baskets and merely under 30 percent shooting from the flooring.
The Huskies' guard tandem of Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier combined to shoot 8 for 28.
Each doned with 15 points.
" They are an excellent defensive group," Boatright stated." You can't beat them off the first option. You've reached visit the 2nd or third choices.".
The Mustangs never tracked. They led by 2 at halftime, however prolonged that to 10 factors midway with the second one-half.
The Huskies cut the bring about 55-49 on a 3-pointer by Napier, however Sterling Brown answered with a 3-pointer and SMU hung on down the stretch.
" We have as good a defensive guard as there is in the country in Nick Russell, and we have some length behind him" SMU train Larry Brown stated." I assumed both teams defended like crazy.".
Neither team can discover the basket early.
The very first points came more than four minutes into the game on a layup by Kennedy. The groups were a combined 0 for 7 with eight turnovers just before that.
It was 7-0 when previously Philip Nolan provided UConn its first factors on a layup more than 6 minutes into the game.
Kennedy had eight first-half factors for the Mustangs.
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However SMU never ever led by greater than seven in the very first fifty percent and UConn tied the game at 25 with under a min to play. SMU took the lead back on a set of Kennedy free throws, and racked up the very first two containers of the 2nd half.
The Mustangs extended the bring about 44-34, holding the Huskies without a field goal for eight minutes between 2 of Napier's layups.
SMU, which is finding its very first berth to the NCAA competition since 1993, defeat UConn 74-65 in Dallas in January. The Mustangs additionally have sway No. 22 Memphis and No. 7 Cincinnati busy play. They fell out of the Top 25 after shedding last week at Holy place.
" We're still up and down," Moore stated." But once we reach that clicking point and we merely stay at a superior, I feel we can make a large run if we make the NCAA event.".
The Mustangs currently have much more wins this period compared to any type of SMU team because 1999-00. They boosted to 4-4 in league play on the road and are 7-0 in your home.
UConn recognized the initial of its three men's championship game groups at halftime, putting an oral plaque buildup on its" Wall of Honor" for the 1999 champs. Khalid El-Amin, the point player on that group, also was honored with a specific plaque.
UConn struck 6 of 21 shots from 3-point assortment, however has 194 on the period, three greater than the Huskies had all of last year.
It does not acquire much easier for SMU, which encounters Central Florida following, yet still has games entrusted No. 11 Louisville and at No. 22 Memphis just before the American event.
Connecticut likewise encounters 2 ranked teams in its final three regular-season games, hosting No. 7 Cincinnati next Saturday and closing the period at Louisville.
