SMU Holds Off Florida State 83-80 Behind Jaron Pierre Jr.'s 28 Points

SMU's Jaron Pierre Jr. stole the show at Moody Coliseum, scoring 28 points to lead the Mustangs to an 83-80 victory over Florida State. The win marked a strong performance by SMU, who were predicted to win by 9.2 points by CHD Scout, and ultimately emerged victorious, albeit by a narrower margin. Pierre Jr.'s impressive outing was complemented by B.J. Edwards' 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, as the Mustangs improved to 15-5 on the season.

The first half belonged to SMU, who took a 46-34 lead into the break. However, Florida State refused to back down, with Robert McCray V orchestrating a second-half surge. McCray V finished with 21 points and 9 assists, and his efforts helped the Seminoles outscore SMU 46-37 in the second half. Despite the push, SMU's lead proved insurmountable, as they held on for the 3-point win.

Pierre Jr.'s performance was a key factor in the Mustangs' success, as he consistently found ways to score and create for his teammates. His 28 points marked one of the highest totals of the season for the SMU guard, and his clutch shooting late helped to seal the win. On the other side, McCray V's 21 points and 9 assists were not enough to overcome the Seminoles' slow start, as they fell to 8-12 on the year.

The win was a crucial one for SMU's NCAA Tournament hopes, as it marked a Quadrant 3 victory for the Mustangs. With a current NET ranking of 33, SMU is firmly in the tournament conversation, and this win will only help to bolster their resume. For Florida State, the loss was a Quadrant 1 defeat, which will likely have minimal impact on their tournament chances, given their current NET ranking of 113.

In the end, SMU's strong first-half performance and Pierre Jr.'s outstanding individual effort was the difference. While CHD Scout's prediction of an SMU win by 9.2 points was ultimately correct, the actual margin of victory was much narrower, a reflection of Florida State's resilience. As the season wears on, SMU want to build on this win and continue to make a push for the NCAA Tournament. With performances like Pierre Jr.'s, they will certainly be a team to watch in the coming weeks. The win over Florida State is a significant addition to SMU's tournament resume, and they want to continue to accumulate quality wins as they pursue a postseason berth.