SMU Rally Falls Short Against Marshall, 73-68 (with VIDEO)

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustang Rally Falls Short In Loss To Marshall, 73-68
London Giles Leads SMU With 17 Points

Feb. 18, 2012

SMU rallied from a 20-point deficit to get within four before falling 73-68 to Marshall on Saturday. Damier Pitts scored 20 points to lead Marshall.

The Thundering Herd never trailed and led by as many as 20 with just over 10 minutes left before the Mustangs rallied, but they couldn't get closer than four points. Marshall led 49-29 after a Dennis Tinnon basket with 10:27 left to play. SMU outscored the Thundering Herd 39-24 the rest of the way and held Marshall to just one field goal in the final six minutes.

Three other Thundering Herd players were in double figures. DeAndre Kane had 14 points, Nigel Spikes scored 13 and Dennis Tinnon added 12 points for Marshall (16-10, 7-5).

SMU (11-16, 2-10) trailed 25-14 at the half before scoring 54 points in the second half. SMU scored 39 points in the last 10 minutes on Saturday.

London Giles, who missed the Wednesday UAB game due to a concussion, returned Saturday and led the Mustangs with 17 points. Jalen Jones scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.

SMU is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 22 when they host Tulane at Moody Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at smumustangs.com.

Marshall 73 at SMU 68
Marshall Thundering Herd (16-10, 7-5 C-USA), SMU Mustangs (11-16, 2-10 C-USA)
February 18, 2012
Moody Coliseum
Dallas, Texas

NEXT GAME
vs. Tulane Green Wave
Wed., Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
Moody Coliseum
Radio: KAAM 770 AM
Audio & Video: SMUMustangs.com

TEAM NOTES
- London Giles returned to lineup after missing Feb. 15 vs. UAB (concussion)
- Outscored Marshall 28-17 on bench points

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
London Giles
- Scored 17 points
- Scored 10+ points for 15th time this season
- Career-high in a C-USA game
- Was 6-8 on FG
- Was 3-5 on 3FG
- Was 2-2 on FT
- Added a rebound and an assist

Robert Nyakundi
- Scored 10 points
- Has 1278 career points (now 18th at SMU)
- Scored 10+ points for 21st time this season
- Made one 3FG
- Has 247 career 3FG (3rd at SMU)
- Has 64 this season (10th at SMU)
- Added 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist

Jalen Jones
- Scored 15 points
- Scored 10+ points for 12th time this year
- Has 114 points in C-USA games this season (4th by an SMU freshman)
- Was 6-8 on FG
- Grabbed 3 rebounds
- Added 2 steals
- Attempted 7 free throws (has 123 this season, 2nd by an SMU freshman)

Shawn Williams
- Grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds
- Scored 2 points

Jeremiah Samarrippas
- Scored 10 points
- Scored 10+ points for 11th time this season
- Was 5-7 on FG
- Had 2 assists
- Grabbed 3 rebounds
- Added a steal

Guards Jeremiah Samarrippas, London Giles


Head coach Matt Doherty — Part I


Head coach Matt Doherty — Part II