SMU
14-0, 3-0
Cincinnati (ESPN)
11-5, 1-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 32 | 25 | 57 |
| SMU | 30 | 29 | 59 |
No. 15 SMU Defeats Cincinnati 59-57 In Comeback Thriller
Jan 7 | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Postgame Notes | Photo Gallery | Video Replay
DALLAS (AP) -- Jordan Tolbert tipped in Nic Moore's missed shot for the go-ahead score with 28 seconds left and then had a big block as No. 15 SMU rallied to remain undefeated, beating Cincinnati 59-57 Thursday night.
The short-handed Mustangs (14-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference), with only seven scholarship players to start the game, overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 3 1/2 minutes. They are off to the best start in school history.
Moore finished with 14 points. He had two 3-pointers in the game-ending 11-2 run for SMU, which along with No. 22 South Carolina (14-0) are the only undefeated Division I teams.
When Moore missed, Tolbert followed up to put the Mustangs ahead and then blocked Troy Caupain's shot at the other end. Ben Moore made a free throw with 8 seconds left before Farad Cobb missed a go-ahead 3-pointer on the last shot for Cincinnati (11-5, 1-2).
Cobb, who entered leading the AAC with 2.7 3s per game and shooting 47 percent from long range, had 18 points on his six 3-pointers. Gary Clark had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bearcats.
Ben Moore had 15 points to lead SMU, while Tolbert and Shake Milton each had 11.
SMU was down to seven scholarship players, with junior guard Keith Frazier away from the team for a second consecutive game because of personal reasons.
That was down to six when Sterling Brown, sporting a Mohawk haircut for the first time, was ejected from the game with 7:11 left in the first half after coming on the floor during a scrum that led technical fouls against both teams.
Brown was at the scoring table waiting to come into the game when Nic Moore was scrambling on the floor for a rebound. Tolbert dived and landed on top of Cincinnati center Coreontae DeBerry, the big men were shoving and pushing on the floor with one official in the fray with them while other players came together with the other officials between them.
Officials took an extended look at replays, including overhead views, before assessing technical fouls against Tolbert and DeBerry and ejecting Brown.
The Mustangs played only seven players, four of them going at least 31 minutes. SMU had 11 blocked shots, five by Ben Moore, and only nine total fouls.
SMU's next game is on Sunday, Jan. 10 when the Mustangs host UCF at Moody Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPNU. Tickets to the game can be purchased online at smumustangs.com/tickets or by calling 214-SMU-GAME.
SMU survives! https://t.co/cu61hDUaBX
-- ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) January 8, 2016
SMU battles back from a 1st half deficit to stay perfect! ?? pic.twitter.com/4HrdWdDelb
-- ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) January 8, 2016
Still perfect! No. 15 SMU hits a late bucket to beat Cincinnati, 59-57, and remain 1 of the last 2 unbeatens in CBB. pic.twitter.com/r0JSTGjzwD
-- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2016
Gotta say in 11 years calling @SMUBasketball that's one of the more improbable and thrilling wins. Love this team. #PonyUp
-- Rich Phillips (@rphillipsTMS) January 8, 2016
Hey, @SethOnHoops, could you please tell somebody at Hall of Fame on the Cousy Award committee about Nic Moore. You have juice.
-- Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) January 8, 2016
Nic Moore, UCLA, and why Jim Boeheim's first game back from suspension is a pivotal one. Observations @CBSSports: https://t.co/tanI7aqQxo
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 8, 2016
Really hope everyone involved with the Cousy Award saw the last five minutes between SMU & Cincinnati. Not many PG's better than Nic Moore.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 8, 2016
Nic Moore is the least appreciated player in college basketball. Would be a cult hero if he played at Ohio State or Michigan. So clutch.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 8, 2016
Here's how the @SMUBasketball win over Cincinnati sounded in the final minutes on the Mustangs Radio Network. https://t.co/8BZFPoBf6e
— Rich Phillips (@rphillipsTMS) January 8, 2016
