Samet Yiğitoğlu finished with a career-high 20 points, but his final four may have been the biggest in SMU's 63-57 win at North Carolina State on Saturday.
After scoring eight points in the first half, Yiğitoğlu scored SMU's first eight points of the second half as the lead grew to 13 points. He then scored the final four points for the Mustangs, going 4-for-4 from the free throw line, including a one-and-one with 18 seconds left in a four-point game to put it away.
"Very proud of him to go under pressure like that late in the second half," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said. "The fans were booing him and he was able to step up and make all four."
It was the most complete game Yiğitoğlu has played in an SMU uniform. Even though he wasn't able to complete the double-double, finishing with seven rebounds, he was effective and efficient in 29 minutes.
"He was able to get 20 and seven, he made all four of his free throws, very proud of him," Enfield said of Yiğitoğlu. "They were pressure free throws late in the second half and he made four straight. Then defensively I thought he had a really good game. He was able to block a shot and challenge shots, especially in our zone. … He's just improving as a defensive player and we need more of that."
The game didn't get off to the best start for the Mustangs as NC State scored the first eight points and led 10-2. SMU answered with a 12-2 run, including a pair of Chuck Harris 3-pointers and one by Matt Cross for its first lead of the game, 14-12.
The Wolfpack took the lead back and built a six-point lead with 7:44 left in the half. SMU took over.
The Mustangs scored the next 15 points and finished the half on an 18-4 run to lead by eight at the break.
"I think their pressure, they came out and played very hard defensively, put us on our heels a little bit and we missed a couple easy shots," Enfield said. "Then we settled down and really pushed the pace a little bit and went to our zone defense and went on that big run in the first half. Our guys did a good job of sharing the ball and then making the right plays."
SMU grew its lead to a game-high 15 points eight minutes into the second half, finishing off a 33-12 stretch that lasted nearly 16 minutes from the end of the first half into the second half.
NC State wouldn't go away. The Wolfpack had runs of 7-0, 8-0 and 4-0 as part of an overall 21-7 run that would make it a one-point game with 3:21 to play.
"I was most concerned that they would take the lead and win the game," Enfield said of that stretch. "We had to just hang in there. Our guys played tremendous defense all day. We held them to 29% from the field for the entire game. I think that's, probably, our best field goal percent defense for the entire season. That's big-time, on the road, to be able to do that."
B.J. Edwards stopped the bleeding with a key 3-pointer from the corner. Boopie Miller drove into the lane, drew defenders and then kicked it out to Edwards and gave SMU a two-possession cushion the rest of the way.
"We told Boopie, 'You can get in the lane,' that's why we ran every play down the stretch, that high ball screen to use his speed and creativity," Enfield said. "He did get a shot blocked, he went off of one foot and kind of double pumped and had three guys block it. We tried to say, 'You're going to get to where you want, but you're going to have three guys on you and try to find the open man.' He did a terrific job of controlling the game late.
"... It was a big one. He's a big-time player and Boopie made a tremendous play off the pass. He drew the whole defense in the lane and BJ was wide open. He stepped up and he made it."
No matter how big the lead got, SMU knew there would be a late run. The four NC State games before Saturday were decided by nine points, combined.
But the Mustangs did what was necessary to be on the right side of the scoreboard when the clock hit zeros.
"We knew this was going to be a close game and it was," Enfield said. "NC State has played six out of their last seven games, in league, have been decided by three points or less, including an overtime win. So, it's not shocking that it was a very close game and we're just fortunate to come out on top."
