UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU is hitting its stride at the right time. With just a month away from the ACC tournament, where they hope to earn their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2017, the Mustangs are currently enjoying a five-game win streak in conference play. This streak has showcased impressive shooting displays, but it’s their significant defensive improvements that have made a real difference. This was clear during their complete victory against Pitt on Thursday night, as SMU (19-5, 10-3) defeated Pitt (14-10, 5-8) by a score of 83-63.
Coach Andy Enfield noted after the game, “Once we started to figure each other out and got better defensively, we’ve been able to put a winning streak together.” SMU held Pitt to just 32% shooting from the field and a mere 26% from beyond the arc. Despite entering the game ranked 11th in the conference for defense, allowing an average of 71.5 points per game, they’ve only given up 64.2 points per game during this recent win streak.
On the offensive end, SMU shot an impressive 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range, dominating inside by outscoring Pitt 38-18 in the paint. A notable performance came from Samet Yigitoglu, the 7-2 center who tied for a game-high of 17 points with 10 rebounds and three assists. Yigitoglu continues to show his scoring skills, notching double-digit points in seven straight games.
“He was terrific. He was good defensively, and he also scored the ball around the rim,” Enfield said. However, Yigitoglu did leave the game with a right leg injury with 6:18 remaining but Coach Enfield expects he will be okay.
Yigitoglu made an impact early, scoring four points that helped SMU jump to a quick 12-5 lead. Teammates Boopie Miller and Matt Cross added to that momentum, each starting strong from three-point range. By the middle of the first half, SMU held a 10-point lead, and after a significant 15-3 run, they expanded that lead to 20 points just before halftime. Pitt never managed to shrink the deficit to fewer than 13 points in the second half.
Pitt’s Guillermo Diaz Graham led his team with 15 points and eight rebounds, but it was SMU’s day. Looking ahead, although this current winning streak boosts SMU’s chances for an at-large bid in the upcoming March Madness, they are still in search of a marquee Quad 1 win. Their opportunity for this will come next Saturday against No. 23 Clemson. Before that, a home game against Wake Forest looms, a matchup crucial as both teams are tied for fourth in the ACC.
“Our team is playing well, but we have a lot of basketball left starting on Saturday,” Enfield concluded.
