Mustangs Rally Past RedHawks, 66-55
Dec 20 | Men's Basketball
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. (SMU) - Behind a career-high 35 points from sophomore Bryan Hopkins, the SMU Mustangs rallied for a 66-55 win over the Miami RedHawks in the opening round of the Boilermaker Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 20.
The RedHawks led by as many as eight in the second half at 46-38 before the Ponies closed the game on an 18-3 run to win going away.
Hopkins and backcourt running mate Justin Isham were the only 'Stangs in double figures, with Isham netting 15. The duo also combined to hit nine three-pointers on 13 attempts.
Hopkins' 35 points were the most by an SMU player since NBA first-round draft pick Jeryl Sasser poured in 39 at UTEP on Jan. 22, 2001. The Dallas native's performance ties for the 14th-best single-game player output in school history. Hopkins also added four boards and six assists.
SMU was also strong defensively, limiting Miami to just 55 points and holding MU's leading scorer, Juby Johnson, to just six points. The win marks the 27th straight for SMU when limiting an opponent to less than 60 points.
With the win, SMU moves to 4-3, while Miami slips to 3-4. Up next for SMU is 17th-ranked Purdue, as the two teams will tipoff Sunday's Invitational final at 2:30 p.m. CST in West Lafayette. The game will be televised as part of the ESPN Full Court package and will be available on a pay-per-view basis in the Metroplex.
