SMU is off to its best start in five years as it welcomes Arkansas-Pine Bluff to town Tuesday night in Dallas.
The Mustangs (4-0) are coming off a thrilling 87-85 victory over Butler on Saturday, battling back from a five-point halftime deficit. Jaron Pierre Jr. had a game-winning reverse layup with 4.2 seconds left. Pierre finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Boopie Miller had a team-leading 23 points and 12 assists.
For the Mustangs, though, it was the resiliency they’ve shown throughout the early going. They rallied against Butler by shooting 70% from the field in the second half, which featured 34 of their 62 points in the paint.
As coach Andy Enfield said afterward, 62 points in the paint “is a lot.”
“We’re a very good rim team,” Enfield said. “Our guys did a good job of just finishing when we were in the lane.”
The 62 paint points are the Mustangs’ most since Enfield took over last season. That is expected to be SMU’s formula for success, Enfield said, as the roster is designed to get to the rim and draw fouls. Eventually, the goal is dominance inside will lead to open 3-point looks.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, meanwhile, is reeling out of the gates. The Golden Lions (0-5) have been outscored by 26 points per game — the latest loss, 104-75, coming Saturday at Vanderbilt.
UAPB is in the midst of 11 straight road games, something that coach Solomon Bozeman explained before the season.
“How do we respond to adversity? That’s why we have 11 road games to start the season,” said Bozeman, according to the Pine Bluff Commercial News. “How are we going to jell as a team? Are we going to be together when things get tough? … This is a time for our team to come together through adverse situations.”
The Golden Lions are led by senior guard Quion Williams (16.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), who spent his first two seasons at Oklahoma State. Jaquan Scott (14.6 ppg), who played his first Div. I season at Mississippi State, and Trevon Payton (11.4 ppg) also average double figures.
-Field Level Media
