DALLAS (SMU) - Despite a solid team effort, the SMU Mustangs came up short in their season finale, falling 20-13 to No. 17/19 TCU on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in the battle for the Iron Skillet.

SMU took an early 3-0 lead on a 33-yard Chris McMurtray field goal at the 7:42 mark of the first quarter. TCU rallied for a 10-3 lead, but SMU knotted the game at 10-10 on a 17-yard run by Chris Phillips.

Neither team scored in the third period, but TCU took a quick 13-10 lead at the 14:52 mark of the final quarter. SMU again struck back quickly, tacking on a 22-yard McMurtray field goal less than four minutes later to again tie the game, 13-13.

TCU was able to strike the final blow, unfortunately, as Robert Merrill scampered 20 yards for a TD with just 7:18 remaining.

?There were no moral victories today. We played hard, but we didn?t play well enough to win? said SMU Coach Phil Bennett. "I thought we had an opportunity to win, but TCU is just more seasoned and experienced than we are right now. They deserved to win today.?

Senior Keylon Kincade finished his SMU tenure with 70 yards, going over the 3,000-yard mark for his career. He finishes with 3,038 yards, just six yards shy of fourth place on the Mustang career charts.

On the day, Phillips went 7-for-16 for 116 yards and ran for an additional 53 yards. D.D. Lee led the defensive charge with a game-high 11 stops.

Senior cornerback Jonas Rutledge summed up his feelings after the game, saying, ?I?m glad I went to SMU. I?m glad to be a part of what?s happening at SMU. I hope these guys get it turned around next season. I know I?ll be pulling for them.?