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Sleeper
SMU Manages 49-38 Win At Home Over SWAC Foe Alabama State
By Rick Atkinson for cusa-fans.com
http://cusa-fans.com/


SMU coach Matt Doherty

DALLAS – Was it bad shooting or good defense? Or lingering effects of the lunar eclipse? Whichever, SMU and Alabama State played a game on Wednesday that produced effects similar to Ambien - but less habit forming.

The Mustangs won thanks to Robert Nyakundi and Papa Dia, who combined for 41 of SMU’s 49 points - 20 and 21, respectively. Five minutes into the second half, the duo had accounted for every Mustang point, causing one long-time observer to say, “I’ve seen a lot. But I’ve never seen that.”

Alabama State shot a sleepy 17-percent (4-23) in the first half to trail the 30-percent-shooting Mustangs, 22-13. As SMU’s alumni band played soothing Christmas carols at the break, fans could be forgiven for succumbing to a sweet holiday nap.

Not stimulating, but it’s a Mustang W.

“It’s nice to go into Christmas at 7-4,” said SMU coach Matt Doherty. “It’s nice to play really good defense. We did not play good defense last Saturday [at McMurry] and that was the focus. Tonight, we didn’t shoot well, but I thought we played fairly well on offense.”

Doherty said ASU showed respect in shifting from its usual man-to-man defense to zone this night. “I think that’s a compliment to what we’re doing,” he said.

“I have a lot of respect for Alabama State,” Doherty added. “They’re 2-10 but I think they’ve played two or three home games and they’ve got to be everybody’s guest to raise money for their program.”

Said sixth-year ASU coach Lewis Jackson, “We just have problems scoring. It’s something that’s been our Achilles Heel all year. … I thought our defense was pretty good, but we’ve got problems scoring.”

“We came out, I thought we had a pretty good scheme of things, trying to double the big guy [Dia] and make the guard take tough shots. We lost their shooter [Nyakundi] there a couple of times but overall the defense was pretty good.”

“If [an opponent] scores 40-something points,” Jackson said, “you’re supposed to be able to win that game.”

Kendere Washington led ASU with 10 points. The Hornets out-rebounded SMU, 33-29. ASU’s Ivan Johnson of Dallas Pinkston High had 35 vocal friends and family members on hand behind the Hornets bench.


Papa Dia

SMU’s biggest lead was 15 points, early in the second half, and ASU never led. The Hornets drew to within eight points twice in the final three minutes.

Doherty said near-exclusive scoring from Dia and Nyakundi is not “a major concern” for now. “I think [guard] Rodney [Clinkscales] will get his scoring up. I think [guard] Jeremiah [Samarrippas] is a capable scorer. So I’m not overly concerned about it as long we score more points than they do.”

“It would be nice to have more scoring but we don’t right now and hopefully something will show up.”

Doherty concluded, “I thought we were in control throughout the game. At times, I was frustrated but overall I thought we were in control because we were getting good shots, for the most part, and they didn’t get many good looks.”

SMU has won three straight and six of its last seven, as the end to its less than demanding non-conference slate draws near.

Jackson had high praise for Dia and Nyakundi. “We were here when Papa Dia was a freshman and I knew that he would be good. He a soft touch, a great free-throw shooter, passes the ball well, rebounds the ball well. He does a little bit of everything for them. ... [Nyakundi] shoots the ball well. He’s got good size he can put it on the floor. Matt has two great guys there.”

The Hornets have lost to two other C-USA teams this season, Tulane and UCF, by large margins. How does SMU compare?

“That’s not for me to try to compare those teams,” Jackson said. “I’ve got to worry about the teams in my league. … Each night is different when you go out and play, whether you’re playing in Florida or New Orleans or here in Texas. … All of them have great ball clubs and have great coaches. I think all will do well.”

ASU played at home in Montgomery two nights prior before bussing to Dallas. “I think we were a little tired in doing some things,” Jackson said. “But our guys play hard. They’re going to come out, they’re going to compete. We don’t do every thing right on every possession, but they’re going to compete. And we did that tonight.”

The Mustangs may be in for “culture-shock” in January, when Ole Miss, Memphis and Houston come to town. Stay tuned.

Next two:
Southeast Missouri State, Wed., Dec. 29, 7 p.m.
Dallas Christian, Sat. Jan. 1, 2 p.m.


ASU coach Lewis Jackson