Mustangs' relentless defense fuels takeaways, but Florida State's offense ignites late, pulling away in a hard-fought Dallas contest.
The final score didn’t reflect how competitive the night felt early inside Moody Coliseum, but SMU Mustangs once again showed the identity they’re building under first-year head coach Adia Barnes.
SMU stayed within striking distance through the first half before the Florida State Seminoles found separation after the break, pulling away for a 73-51 decision Thursday night.
For a Mustangs team navigating injuries and rotation challenges, the effort was there, even if the execution faded late.
Defense continues to be SMU’s calling card.
The Mustangs forced 21 turnovers and piled up 15 steals, turning pressure into points whenever possible. That aggressive approach has now produced double-digit steals in 13 games this season, the most by the program in nearly half a decade. SMU’s defense gives them a chance most nights.
Offensively, consistency was harder to come by. SMU struggled to find rhythm from the floor and couldn’t match Florida State’s perimeter shooting.
The Seminoles leaned heavily on their outside accuracy, knocking down a dozen three-pointers that steadily stretched the lead. When shots aren’t falling, it becomes difficult to fully capitalize on forced turnovers, and that gap showed in the second half.
Still, there were individual performances worth highlighting. Sahnya Jah led the Mustangs with 14 points and was active on both ends, setting a new career high with five steals.
Her ability to attack defensively and finish through contact stood out, especially during SMU’s brief second-half push.
Anaya Brown delivered one of her most complete games of the season. Brown finished with 10 points and nine rebounds while anchoring the interior defensively.
Her four blocks and four steals underscored how disruptive she was around the rim and in passing lanes, and she was a steady presence throughout a choppy offensive night.
Meanwhile, Zahra King continued her scoring consistency, reaching double figures again and adding playmaking responsibilities.
Even when shots didn’t fall at her usual efficiency, her ability to handle pressure and facilitate offense kept SMU organized during stretches where scoring was scarce.
The turning point came early in the second half when Florida State opened with a sustained run that pushed the margin into double digits.
SMU responded with energy but couldn’t string together enough stops or clean possessions to claw back.
For the Mustangs, the blueprint remains clear: pressure defense, activity in the lanes, and balanced scoring. The next step is converting that defensive chaos into a more efficient offense, especially against teams that can punish missed rotations from the perimeter.
SMU will look to build on its defensive strengths and clean up offensive execution when it returns to Moody Coliseum to face the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday.
In a tightly packed ACC race, those details will make the difference.