DALLAS — Kario Oquendo showcased his shooting prowess by sinking four 3-pointers and contributing a total of 20 points on an impressive 7 for 8 shooting performance as he helped propel the SMU Mustangs to a 101-72 triumph over Alabama State on Tuesday night.

The Mustangs displayed remarkable balance in scoring, with seven players reaching double digits. Chuck Harris, Matt Cross, and Samet Yigitoglu each added 12 points, while B.J. Edwards and Yohan Traore chipped in 11 points each. Jerrell Colbert rounded out the notable contributions with 10 points. It was an off night for Boopie Miller, who had been leading the team in scoring with an average of 17.0 points per game, as he managed only four points, shooting just 1 for 12 overall and failing to make any of his seven 3-point attempts.

For Alabama State, Amarr Knox led the team with 17 points, and Shawn Fulcher followed closely behind with 12 points as they tried to keep pace with the Mustangs.

The game shifted decisively midway through the first half when Oquendo, Cross, and Harris each drained a 3-pointer, culminating in an impressive 11-0 run that propelled SMU into a permanent lead at 25-18 with 11:33 remaining in the first half. Alabama State’s Tyler Mack attempted to rally the Hornets by making back-to-back 3-pointers, narrowing the gap to two points just six minutes later. However, SMU quickly responded, scoring 13 of the next 15 points, concluding with a 3-pointer by Fulcher to bring the score to 49-39 at halftime.

As the second half commenced, Traore electrified the crowd with a dunk that set the tone for the remaining game, as SMU maintained a lead of ten points or more for the duration.

This win marked the third time this season that SMU surpassed the 100-point mark in a game, showcasing their high-octane offensive capabilities.