FRISCO, Texas – In a thrilling match-up at the Compete 4 Cause Classic held at the Comerica Center, SMU triumphed over LSU with a score of 74-64, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Matt Cross was a standout performer, contributing 16 points and matching his career-best by securing 16 rebounds, which marked his third double-double for the current season. Alongside Cross, B.J. Edwards and Samet Yigitoglu each added 12 points, while Chuck Harris came off the bench to score 11 for the Mustangs, who boast a record of 9-2.

On the opposing side, LSU’s Jordan Sears led the Tigers with an impressive 21 points, with contributions of 13 points from Dji Bailey and 11 points from Cam Carter. Unfortunately for LSU, this result ended their four-game winning streak, dropping their record to 8-2.

The game took a turn after a competitive first half, where SMU found themselves trailing 33-27 at halftime. However, the Mustangs came out of the locker room with renewed vigor, initiating an 8-2 scoring run. This surge was highlighted by a jump shot from Yigitoglu, followed by consecutive layups by Cross, Yohan Traore, and Edwards, which energized the team.

The momentum continued with Cross hitting a 3-pointer, and Jerrell Colbert executing a powerful dunk, while Harris also sunk a 3-point shot. Kario Oquendo and Edwards added their own dunks, and Cross capped the 14-0 run with a layup, pushing the Mustangs ahead to a commanding 51-39 lead with 11:01 left in the game.

LSU attempted to claw back into the game, with Cam Carter making a 3-pointer as part of an 8-3 run, narrowing the gap to 58-52. Despite their efforts, Harris responded with a 3-pointer and followed that with Boopie Miller hitting two free throws, which expanded SMU’s lead to 63-52. The Tigers rallied again, with Damion Collins hitting a jump shot that brought LSU within 66-63 with just 1:47 remaining. However, SMU sealed their victory by converting 7 of 8 attempts from the free-throw line in the closing moments.