The Southern Methodist Mustangs secured a hard-fought 89-81 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Moody Coliseum, with Jaron Pierre Jr. putting on a show. The junior guard tallied 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading SMU to a win that was predicted by CHD Scout, who had the Mustangs winning by 14.2 points. Although the actual margin was slightly narrower at 8 points, the outcome was never truly in doubt after SMU built a 43-37 halftime lead.
Jaron Pierre Jr. Becomes 5th SMU Player to Record 20+ Points, 7+ Rebounds, and 5+ Assists in a Single Game This Season
Notre Dame's Jalen Haralson did his best to keep the Fighting Irish in the game, scoring 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Mustangs. Boopie Miller added 20 points and 7 assists for SMU, while Corey Washington chipped in with 14 points. The Mustangs' offense was clicking on all cylinders, particularly in the second half, where they scored 46 points to seal the win.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The game was marked by a series of runs, with SMU using a 10-2 spurt in the first half to build a 6-point lead. Notre Dame responded with a 7-0 run of their own, but the Mustangs were always able to stay ahead. In the second half, SMU pushed their lead to as many as 12 points before the Fighting Irish made a late push to cut the deficit to 8.
The win was a Quad 3 victory for SMU, which should help bolster their tournament resume. With a current NET ranking of 34, the Mustangs are firmly in the mix for an at-large bid. For Notre Dame, the loss was a Quad 1 opportunity that slipped away, leaving them with a 11-14 record and a NET ranking of 89. The Fighting Irish must regroup and focus on their remaining schedule if they hope to make a push for the postseason.
The performance of Jaron Pierre Jr. was a major factor in the outcome, as he consistently made plays on both ends of the floor. His ability to score, rebound, and distribute the ball made him a nightmare for the Notre Dame defense to match up with. As the season enters its final stretch, SMU want to Pierre Jr. to continue leading the charge as they pursue a tournament berth.