SMU knocks off ORU, advances in CIT (w/ video interviews)

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Men's Basketball Tops Oral Roberts, Wins First Postseason Game Since 1988
Mustangs host Jacksonville Saturday at 2 p.m.

March 16, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) --- Papa Dia had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots as SMU defeated Oral Roberts 64-57 in overtime in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). It is the first postseason win for SMU since the first round of the 1988 NCAA Tournament and the first postseason appearance for the Mustangs since the NIT in 2000. SMU will host Jacksonville in the second round of the CIT on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Justin Haynes had seven points and had two critical free throws for the Mustangs (18-14). Haynes stepped to the line with SMU leading 58-57 with 28 seconds left in overtime and extended SMU's lead to 60-57. Oral Roberts (19-16) turned the ball over before SMU finished the game with two free throws each by Robert Nyakundi and Mike Walker.

Nyakundi totaled 15 points for SMU, going 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Harp was also 4-of-4 as SMU finished 18-of-22 overall at the line.

Dominique Morrison led ORU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Warren Niles scored 13 points and Damen Bell-Holter had 10.

SMU shot 45.8 percent to 39.3 for Oral Roberts. SMU led 24-22 at halftime and the game was tied at 52-52 after regulation.

NEXT GAME: SMU hosts Jacksonville Saturday at Moody Coliseum; time TBD

TEAM NOTES
- First postseason win since 1988 (NCAA first round win over Notre Dame)
- 18 wins on the season, most since 2001
- Third overtime game this season (2-1)
- SMU hit 2 3FG, extending a new school record for team 3FG made (255) in a season (Record was 215 in 2006-07)

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Papa Dia
-Had his 15th double-double of the season and 28th of his career
- Scored 17 pts

Is 12th all-time at SMU in career points (1392)
Is 7th for points in a season at SMU (594)
Reached double-digits for the 30th time this season
Is t-13th in career FG made (531)
Is 10th for FG made in a season at SMU (225)
- Grabbed 15 rebounds for second consecutive game

Is 5th all-time at SMU in career rebounds (877)
Is 7th at SMU for rebounds in a season (301)
Had 26th game with 8+ rebounds, and 16th game with 10+ rebounds
Has grabbed 8+ rebounds in 21 of the past 23 games
- Had 5 blocked shots

Fourth game with 5+ blocks this season
Has 73 blocks this season, 4th at SMU for a single season
Is 5th at SMU in career blocks (138)
- Is now 5th at SMU in career games played (121)

Robert Nyakundi
- Scored 15 points

Reached double-digits for the 24th time this season
- Was 1-1 on 3FG, now shooting .486 (90/185) on the season

Has made 90 3FG this season, extending a new school record for 3FGM in a single-season
Is 4th all-time at SMU in 3FG made (176)
- Was 4-4 on FT, now shooting .900 (72/80) on the season
- Grabbed 4 rebounds

Jeremiah Samarrippas
- Scored 4 points
- Had 3 assists

Has 114 assists for the season, 3rd most for a freshman at SMU
- Added 3 steals

Eighth game with 3+ steals this season
Has 44 steals this season, 4th most by a freshman
Mike Walker
- Scored 8 points
- Added 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal
- Is now t-8th at SMU in career games played (117)

SMU head coach Matt Doherty — Part I


SMU head coach Matt Doherty — Part II


Justin Haynes, Mike Walker

[Mustangsabu]

Outstanding stuff! Thanks for posting.

I was thrilled for Justin when he hit those two free throws. That was a huge moment.

[Hoofprint]

You're right: definitely great stuff.

Coach Doherty showed good control when asked about the officials' explanation for why the last half of a second mysteriously got taken off the clock. He easily could have blasted the officials, and didn't.

Play of the game: Robert Nyakundi corralling Coach Doherty when Coach lost his mind while screaming at the refs. As bad as those officials were, it wouldn't have been a total shock to see one of them panic and throw a T at Coach Doherty, putting ORU on the line to win the game. Pretty heady move and gutsy to rein in your coach in a crucial moment. Hats off to you, Robert — you might have won the game with that move.