Virginia's late-game execution silenced Moody Coliseum, snapping SMU's home magic in a nail-biting 72-68 battle.
SMU walked into Saturday night at Moody Coliseum unbeaten at home and full of confidence. They walked out frustrated, four points short, and reminded that late-game execution still rules everything in college basketball.
The Mustangs saw their 12-game home winning streak come to an end in a 72-68 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers, a team that seems to thrive when games get tight and uncomfortable.
SMU played good basketball for long stretches.
They even controlled the tempo early, building a seven-point lead in the opening minutes and forcing Virginia to grind.
But the turning point came midway through the first half, when the Cavaliers flipped the switch, and SMU briefly lost the plot. A cold shooting stretch - paired with turnovers - allowed Virginia to rip off a 13-2 run that erased momentum and gave the visitors control heading into halftime.
Still, the Mustangs didn’t fold.
Jarin Pierre Jr. led the charge with 16 points, B.J. Edwards chipped in 13, and even on a quiet night by his standards, Boopie Miller found ways to contribute despite being held to a season-low 12 points.
The defense tightened, the crowd leaned in, and the game became the kind of possession-by-possession fight SMU usually wins at home.
Then came the final two and a half minutes. Virginia executed. SMU couldn’t quite finish.
Every missed look felt heavier. Every defensive rebound more precious. When SMU had a chance to answer late, the Cavaliers responded with poise - knocking down free throws, securing rebounds, and refusing to give the Mustangs a clean final look.
For the Mustangs, the loss stings, but it also offers clarity.
The margin against top-tier teams is razor-thin, and small lapses can swing entire games. The effort was there. The crowd was there. The finish just wasn’t.
SMU now turns its attention to Wake Forest on Tuesday, a chance to reset and prove that Saturday was a lesson - not a setback.
Sometimes the difference isn’t talent or toughness. It’s who stays calm when the clock gets loud.