SMU Defeats New Mexico State, 85-76
Nov 29 | Men's Basketball
Sophomore F Jibran Kelley scored four-straight points with 6:30 remaining in the game to give SMU the lead for good as SMU overcame two 12-point deficits in the second half en route to an 85-76 victory over New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M. Wednesday night.
The victory tied SMU's sixth largest comeback and was the fourth time the Mustangs (2-0) have come from 12 down to win a game - the last coming in SMU's 62-57 over Houston at Moody Coliseum back on March 7, 1996.
"This was a real good win for us because New Mexico State is such a tough team to play against in their own building," sixth-year head coach Mike Dement said. "Jibran [Kelley] was real active tonight and we got some quality minutes from him and our veterans carried us down the stretch."
Junior G Damon Hancock scored 20 points with four assists to lead four Mustangs in double figures. Senior G/F Willie Davis posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore G Quinton Ross scored 15 points with eight rebounds in the win. Senior G Jeryl Sasser, who was held out of the starting lineup and scored only two points in the first half, scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half - including eight points and two rebounds over the final 5:07 of the game.
SMU opened the scoring on junior F Mike Niemi's jumper but New Mexico State responded with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take control of the first half. Davis' three-point play earned the Mustangs their first tie at 33-33 with 1:19 left in the half, but the Aggies' Dennis Trammell hit one of his four three pointers to give New Mexico State (2-4) a 38-33 halftime lead.
The Mustangs have started 2-0 for the third time under Dement and will host Tulane in their home opener Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. SMU is 52-32 in home openers and 31-13 at home openers played in Moody Coliseum.
Official Basketball Box Score
SMU vs. New Mexico State
11/29/00 7:05 PM at Las Cruces, NM - Pan American Center
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VISITORS: SMU 2-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Hancock, Damon...... * 7-11 1-3 5-6 1 1 2 4 20 4 4 0 2 34
13 Ross, Quinton....... * 6-12 1-3 2-4 1 7 8 3 15 0 4 2 4 35
33 Kelley, Jibran...... * 1-3 0-0 3-4 1 5 6 2 5 0 1 1 1 30
34 Davis, Willie....... * 8-17 0-3 3-5 3 7 10 1 19 2 2 3 1 37
55 Niemi, Mike......... * 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 4 2 0 1 0 0 7
05 Sasser, Jeryl....... 3-9 1-4 9-10 1 6 7 1 16 0 3 1 1 34
23 Atkins, Lavardicus.. 1-1 1-1 1-2 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 7
24 Lowe, Kris.......... 0-1 0-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 7
25 Willson, David...... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
50 Smith, Nigel........ 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 8
TEAM................ 3 1 4
Totals.............. 28-57 4-16 25-33 10 28 38 18 85 7 16 8 9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-26 53.8% 2nd Half: 14-31 45.2% Game: 49.1% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 2-10 20.0% Game: 25.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 20-27 74.1% Game: 75.8% 5
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HOME TEAM: New Mexico State 2-4
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
11 DILDY, Emanuel...... * 0-1 0-1 0-1 0 0 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 13
22 NOOPILA, Mikko...... * 1-5 1-1 0-0 1 1 2 4 3 0 1 0 1 13
23 NORVELL, Zack....... * 6-13 0-2 1-1 2 0 2 2 13 2 1 0 1 25
25 CHANNING, Eric...... * 5-12 3-5 2-2 0 3 3 3 15 3 5 0 0 34
42 HINES, Daveeno...... * 7-15 0-0 0-0 6 10 16 2 14 2 1 0 1 37
01 JONES, Tedrell...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
30 TRAMMELL, Dennis.... 4-6 4-5 0-1 0 2 2 2 12 0 3 0 1 24
33 MOORE, James........ 5-8 0-0 1-5 4 4 8 4 11 1 1 4 1 25
35 MASON, Brandon...... 3-11 0-5 2-2 0 1 1 2 8 4 0 0 0 22
40 ELMORE, Ryan........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
44 CROOKS, Kelsey...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
52 McDERMOTT, Ryan..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3
TEAM................ 3 1 4
Totals.............. 31-71 8-19 6-12 17 22 39 25 76 14 14 4 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-35 45.7% 2nd Half: 15-36 41.7% Game: 43.7% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-9 66.7% 2nd Half: 2-10 20.0% Game: 42.1% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-2 0.0% 2nd Half: 6-10 60.0% Game: 50.0% 1
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Officials: Scott Thornley, Mike Thibodeaux, Kelly Self
Technical fouls: SMU-None. New Mexico State-None.
Attendance: 6415
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
SMU........................... 35 50 - 85
New Mexico State.............. 38 38 - 76
