SMU surges back with big second half to beat Washington State in Acrisure Invitational

SMU (6-2) shot 55% from the field in the second half, and going a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line in outscoring Washington State 50-29 after the intermission.

SMU missed its first nine shots on Wednesday, and shot just 31% from the field in the first half in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational championship game against Washington State.

But in what felt like a tale of two halves, the Mustangs managed to find their way back and cruise to a decisive 77-60 win over the Cougars inside Acrisure Arena.

“We just started throwing it into our bigs and our bigs began making plays,” SMU senior guard Boopie Miller said. “They threw it back out to us when (WSU) came to trap and our shots started falling.”

College basketball continues inside Acrisure Arena on Thursday, with four men’s games. The day starts with TCU taking on Santa Clara and will continue with Washington facing Colorado State, USC meeting Saint Mary’s and New Mexico matching up with Arizona State in the Acrisure Classic.

On Tuesday, in the Acrisure Invitational title game, SMU turned a game that they trailed at halftime into what looked like an easy victory, at least at the end.

SMU (6-2) shot 55% from the field in the second half, and going a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line in outscoring Washington State 50-29 after the intermission.

“There’s going to be games like this,” Miller said. “But we’ve just got to keep believing in ourselves and in our shots and just lock them up on defense and I think we did that tonight.”

SMU held Washington State (6-2) to 37% from the field for the game and 30% from beyond the arc.

Miller led all scorers with 16 points in the game. A day earlier, his game-winning shot lifted the Mustangs over Cal Baptist inside Acrisure Arena.

Nate Calmese led Washington State with 15 points.

The Mustangs won’t play again until Tuesday against Alabama State. Washington State will play at Nevada on Monday.

This week marked the first time both teams played inside Acrisure Arena. Miller said that it’s been a fun experience coming out to the desert to play in what he thinks will be a worthwhile experience for teams in the future.

“It’s amazing out here, man,” Miller said. “I’m a kid from Chicago, so just coming out here and exploring the world out here is amazing to me and I know my teammates appreciate it, too.”

Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.