Mustangs Top EA Sports, 81-76
Nov 16 | Men's Basketball
DALLAS (SMU) - Despite trailing by as many as 14 points during the first half, the SMU Mustangs rallied for an 81-76 win over the EA Sports All-Stars on Sunday, Nov. 16, at Moody Coliseum.
The All-Stars, coming off a Friday win over Arkansas, opened the game on a hot streak, hitting eight of their first 10 three-point tries. They took a 34-20 lead at the 10:11 mark of the first half before the Ponies closed the half on a 25-11 run to knot the game at 45-45 at the break. The two teams traded leads in the second half before SMU took the lead for good with 5:34 remaining.
Patrick Simpson earned Player of the Game honors with 22 points and eight rebounds in 36 minutes of play. Justin Isham netted 14 points while adding eight steals and four blocks, and Donatas Rackauskas just missed a double-double with 12 points and eight caroms. Bryan Hopkins and Eric Castro also hit double-digits with 13 points each, while Hopkins added seven assists and Castro notched seven boards.
With the win, SMU finishes at 6-0 in the preseason, having swept two exhibition games and a four-game Canadian tour. SMU opens regular-season play on Saturday, Nov. 22, when they travel to South Padre Island to take on the Texas-Pan American Broncs at 7 p.m.
