Jaron Pierre Jr.'s game-winner lifts SMU over Butler

Jaron Pierre Jr.'s reverse layup with 3.7 seconds left lifted host SMU to an 87-85 comeback win over Butler on Saturday afternoon in Dallas, Tex.

Pierre Jr.'s score came immediately after he missed a go-ahead three-pointer from the top of the key with 12 seconds left. B.J. Edwards came up with the offensive rebound and found Pierre Jr., who drove to the hoop and connected.

Butler's Finley Bizjack's desperation three-point try at the other end hit only rim, and the Mustangs (4-0) remained undefeated. SMU won its first four games for the first time since the 2020-21 season and avenged a loss to the Bulldogs (3-1) in the fourth game of last season.

Pierre Jr.'s heroics helped the Mustangs survive in crunch time without top scorer Boopie Miller, who led SMU with 23 points and 12 assists, but fouled out with 1:16 remaining in the game. Pierre Jr. finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Edwards and Samet Yigitoglu each contributed 14 points.

After Butler cut SMU's lead to 82-78, Miller's three-pointer with 1:41 remaining pushed it back to a three-score game. After Miller fouled out, Bizjack made a free throw to cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 85-79. SMU's Sam Walters turned the ball over, leading to a three by Evan Haywood.

Michael Ajayi stole the ball from Pierre Jr., and after a timeout, tied the game at 85 apiece with a triple with 37 seconds left.

But SMU capitalized on its final possession to overcome that negative sequence as well as seven turnovers by Miller. The Mustangs overcame an early nine-point deficit and shot a staggering 70 percent (21 for 30) from the field in the second half.

Bizjack led Butler with 18 points and four assists, while Ajayi had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Jackson finished with nine points and six assists. Butler had 24 assists overall.

The Bulldogs' 13 for 29 shooting from beyond the arc kept them in the game in the second half despite SMU's remarkable efficiency.

--Field Level Media