Pierre Jr. and Miller ignite SMU's offense, overpowering Pitt with a dominant second-half surge for a crucial ACC victory.
SMU men’s basketball delivered one of its sharpest performances of the season Saturday, pulling away from the Pittsburgh Panthers for an 86-67 victory behind an explosive backcourt showing.
Jaron Pierre Jr. and Boopie Miller combined for 41 points, setting the tone for a dominant second half that left little doubt inside Moody Coliseum.
Pierre Jr. was efficient and aggressive, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding five rebounds. He saved his best work for after halftime, scoring 14 points in the second half and not missing a single shot during the stretch that broke the game open.
Miller matched his energy, pouring in 20 points to go with nine assists and three steals, consistently pushing the tempo and keeping the Panthers on their heels.
After a tight first half that saw SMU take a modest 34-32 lead into the break, the Mustangs flipped the switch early in the second half.
SMU opened with a blistering 24-9 run, stretching the margin into double digits and eventually building a lead as large as 24. Pierre and Miller combined for 25 points during that surge, turning a competitive game into a runaway.
Offensively, the Mustangs shot 57 percent from the field and knocked down 43 percent of their 3-point attempts, numbers that reflect both ball movement and shot selection. They also dominated inside, holding a 44-26 edge in points in the paint, while their speed and pressure fueled a 25-9 advantage in fast-break scoring.
Samet Yigitoglu added another steady presence with 15 points and eight rebounds, helping SMU control the glass and maintain balance in the scoring column.
Pittsburgh was led by Cameron Corhen, who scored 15 points, while Barry Dunning Jr. chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds. The Panthers struggled to find consistency, shooting just 36 percent overall and 24 percent from beyond the arc.
With the win, the Mustangs improved to 16-7 overall and stayed right in the ACC race.
SMU now turns its attention to a home matchup with Notre Dame on Tuesday, carrying momentum and confidence from a statement performance.