The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

SMUs Tyreek Smith dunks as the Mustangs run up the scoreboard against Memphis in Moody Coliseum.
SMU finds new head coach for men’s basketball
Brian Richardson, Contributor • March 28, 2024
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Mustangs brush off adversity, crush East Carolina 77-54

Needless to say, the past two weeks have been sour ones for SMU basketball fans. But the Mustangs were not fazed by the loss of assistant coach Ulric Maligi and two players, senior forward Justin Martin and star sophomore guard Keith Frazier, and rolled to a 77-54 win over hapless East Carolina in arguably their best performance of the season.

Nic Moore led all SMU scorers with 14 points and Markus Kennedy continued his recent dominance with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Pirates had no answer for him and frontcourt mate Yanick Moreira all game, as the pair shot 9-for-15 from the field.

But against an 8-10 ECU team that could not match up with the bigger and more athletic Mustangs, such a performance from the team’s best players isn’t shocking. However, don’t think for a minute that this was a meaningless win: Sterling Brown, who is known for his rebounding and defense, had one of the best games of his career in his first start in Frazier’s stead. Even against ECU, his play was a huge step toward shoving the aside the adversity. The sophomore guard from Maywood, Ill. had 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting (2-of-2 on three-pointers), seven rebounds, three assists and a steal.

“We’re coming together as a team, on and off the floor,” Brown said. “Coming together and doing what Coach Brown wants us to do.”

Brown’s performance embodied the rest of the team’s. Coming off a second-half comeback win against Temple, the Mustangs continued to show poise that was missing at times earlier this season. They sliced up East Carolina’s zone defense for 21 assists on 30 made field goals, a sign of an offense running on all cylinders. On defense, they denied the Pirates any presence in the paint and held them to 35.8 percent shooting. Best of all, they committed only nine turnovers. Pretty good for a team that averages 14.3 turnovers per game.

“Before the game, (East Carolina coach) Jeff (Lebo) told me, ‘You guys are the best passing team we’ve played against, (next to) Carolina,’” SMU Head Coach Larry Brown said. “I said, ‘Yeah, but sometimes we throw it to the other team.’ But we were much better sharing the ball today.”

Sterling Brown isn’t the only player being counted upon to replace Frazier and Martin’s production. Senior guard Ryan Manuel has provided a defensive spark since stepping into the starting lineup last month, and on Saturday he chipped in a stellar offensive day as well with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three rebounds and two assists. Performances like his and Brown’s will make Martin’s departure and Frazier’s ineligibility a distant memory.

“Everybody has to step up,” Manuel said. “We’ve had some things going on, but everybody’s got to step up and make the best of every opportunity we have.”

That next opportunity is a Jan. 21 road tilt against a surprising 13-5 Tulane team. But SMU will ride the momentum of a strong team effort on offense and defense. And of course, the momentum from Jonathan Wilfong’s steal and dunk that sent Moody Coliseum into pandemonium helps too.

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