Benny Gealer’s 30-point explosion powers Stanford past SMU basketball 95-75 as Boopie Miller extends his double-digit streak to 36 games.
SMU basketball walked into Maples Pavilion chasing a Quad 1 road win and left with a harsh reminder of how unforgiving the ACC can be.
Stanford caught fire, Benny Gealer couldn’t miss, and the Mustangs absorbed a 95-75 defeat that dents both momentum and NCAA Tournament positioning.
Let’s start with the avalanche. Gealer delivered a career night, pouring in 30 points while drilling seven 3-pointers. He shot 8-of-12 from the field and buried his seventh triple with just over two minutes remaining, putting an exclamation mark on a performance SMU simply couldn’t cool off.
Every time the Mustangs trimmed the margin, Gealer answered from deep.
Stanford didn’t rely on one hot hand alone. Ebuka Okorie added 22 points, and Aidan Cammann chipped in 15 as the Cardinal matched their season-high scoring output at 95 points.
That offensive balance fueled a decisive 19-4 run midway through the second half, stretching a manageable deficit into a blowout.
To SMU’s credit, the Mustangs had punch. Boopie Miller extended his remarkable streak to 36 consecutive games in double figures, finishing with 26 points.
He was perfect at the free-throw line (10-for-10) and dished out five assists, continuing one of the most consistent scoring runs in college basketball.
Jaron Pierre Jr. added 21 points, pushing his career total to 2,098 - placing him among the top active scorers in NCAA Division I.
Corey Washington (13 points) and Samet Yigitoglu (11 points, 7 rebounds) helped SMU register four double-digit scorers yet again - something they’ve done in 26 of 29 games this season.
But without injured guard B.J. Edwards, who missed the contest after starting the first 28 games, SMU lacked its usual defensive disruption and playmaking spark.
Stanford seized control early, built a halftime edge, and never truly let SMU settle.
When the Mustangs sliced the lead to six midway through the second half, the Cardinal responded with a knockout run that drained any remaining suspense.
Now sitting at 19-10 overall and 8-8 in ACC play, SMU basketball faces a pivotal stretch. Miami visits Moody Coliseum next, followed by a road test at Florida State before the ACC Tournament tips off in Charlotte.
The formula hasn’t changed: defend, share the ball, and let Miller and Pierre close.
But if SMU wants to make real noise in March, it must find answers when opponents catch fire - because Saturday proved how quickly a game can spiral in the ACC.