Jaron Pierre Jr. scored a season-high 23 points, Boopie Miller posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, and SMU rolled to a 106-60 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night in Dallas.
The Mustangs (5-0) are off to their best start since going 6-0 to open the 2020-21 season. Jermaine O’Neal Jr., the son of former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal Sr., had his best game for the Mustangs, scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds. O’Neal Jr. knocked down three 3-pointers, and converted an alley-oop dunk late. Corey Washington also scored 15 points for the Mustangs.
SMU finished 12 of 27 from 3-point range, its best night from long range this season. The Mustangs also shot 56.9% from the field. They dominated across the board, including winning the rebounding battle 45-32, bench points 31-11 and points in the paint 44-34.
UAPB (0-6) shot 34.3% from the field and misfired on 22-of-26 (15.4%) shots from deep. The Golden Lions were led by Trevon Payton’s 13 points and five rebounds. Jaquan Scott added 12 points, and Milhan Charles had 10.
SMU controlled the game early on, going on a 19-2 run to take a 27-8 lead within the first 10 minutes of the first half. That stretch included a pair of 3-pointers by Pierre and one by Sam Walters.
By halftime, the Mustangs were leading 45-26. They scored their final points on a trey by B.J. Edwards.
The script stayed the same in the second half. SMU had an early 10-0 spurt in the final half, capped with a fast-break alley-oop dunk by Pierre with an assist by Miller. On the Mustangs’ next possession, Miller knocked down a 3-pointer to start an 8-0 run.
SMU hit the 100-point mark on a jumper by Edwards with just under five minutes left. Edwards finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
