Pregame

The North Carolina Tar Heels made the trip to Dallas to face off against the SMU Mustangs on Saturday afternoon at the Moody Coliseum. The Tar Heels came into the game with a 13-1 record, following a 79-66 victory over the Florida State Seminoles on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Mustangs were sitting at 11-2 and were playing their first game of conference competition this season. Both teams aimed to gain momentum as they entered the early stages of ACC play.

First Half

The game started off with both teams struggling to find rhythm, resulting in a choppy first half. Despite this, SMU managed to take an early lead, going up 9-4 at the 15-minute mark after Boopie Miller hit a three from the right corner. The Mustangs’ fast pace and press defense disrupted the Tar Heels’ flow, leading to turnovers and missed shots.

SMU extended their lead with an 11-0 run, taking a 13-4 advantage. However, North Carolina’s guard Derek Dixon answered with a three-pointer from the left corner, stopping the bleeding. The Tar Heels narrowed the gap to 15-10 with 11:55 remaining in the first half. Miller picked up his second foul during this stretch, which could be a concern for SMU, as he averages 36 minutes per game.

SMU continued to dominate offensively, shooting 11-of-21 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. This strong performance allowed the Mustangs to build a 27-18 lead at the under-eight timeout. North Carolina responded with a 10-2 run, forcing SMU to call a timeout after Caleb Wilson dunked. The Mustangs led 29-28 with 5:18 left in the first half.

Both teams traded baskets to close out the first half, ending it tied at 39-39.

Second Half

SMU carried their offensive momentum into the second half, hitting three consecutive three-pointers in the opening five minutes. They led 53-48 at the first media timeout. Henri Veesaar picked up his third foul just seconds into the half, adding to the challenges for the Mustangs.

North Carolina’s usual defensive strength was not enough to contain Miller, who scored 19 points by the 11-minute mark. The Mustangs continued to shoot well from three-point range, extending their lead to 63-59 with 11:52 remaining.

This was a new challenge for the Tar Heels, as SMU’s pace on both ends of the court overwhelmed them. Miller continued to perform at a high level, scoring and creating opportunities for his teammates. The Mustangs led 71-65 with 7:48 remaining.

SMU’s guards proved too much for North Carolina to handle, as they shot with precision from beyond the arc. The Mustangs stretched their lead to 14 points at the three-minute mark, eventually coasting to a 97-83 victory.

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