Samet Yigitoglu’s double-double helps SMU beat Pitt

Field Level Media|published: Tue 11th February, 23:42 2025

Feb 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs center Samet Yigitoglu (24) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Panthers guard Ishmael Leggett (5) during the first half at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Samet Yigitoglu racked up 17 points and 10 rebounds as SMU continued its impressive start to its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a wire-to-wire 83-63 victory over struggling Pitt on Tuesday in Dallas.

The Mustangs (19-5, 10-3 ACC) have won five straight games and were in charge in this one from the start. SMU led by 10 points less than seven minutes into the game, by 20 with four minutes to play in the first half, and by 16 at halftime.

Pitt closed to within 14 points on two occasions in the second half -- the latest with 6:20 remaining. The Mustangs responded with a 7-0 run capped by a layup by Kevin "Boopie" Miller with 5:19 to play before cruising to the finish line.

Kario Oquendo had 17 points off the bench, and Matt Cross and Miller added 13 points apiece for SMU.

Guillermo Diaz Graham led the Panthers (14-10, 5-8 ACC) with 15 points before fouling out with 2:50 to play. Brandin Cummings scored 12 and Ishmael Leggett added 10 points for Pitt, which has dropped four games in a row and eight of its past 10 outings.

The Mustangs never trailed, taking charge early on and establishing a 21-11 lead when Miller canned a 3-pointer at the 13:23 mark of the first half. SMU pushed the lead to 15 points after a steal and a driving layup by B.J. Edwards with 9:18 left in the half.

Pitt missed 11 straight shots and committed five turnovers between a jumper by Leggett with 8:15 to play in the half and a layup by Guillermo Diaz Graham with 3:43 remaining. The Mustangs expanded their lead to 36-16 through that stretch and were in complete command.

SMU led 43-27 at the break behind a balanced attack led by Miller's nine points over the first 20 minutes. The Mustangs outshot Pitt 57.7 percent to 26.5 percent in the half and forced eight turnovers that they turned into 14 points.

Guillermo Diaz Graham led all scorers with 10 points before halftime.

The Mustangs dispelled any notion of a Pitt comeback by scoring the first eight points of the second half, building their advantage to 51-30 after a pair of free throws by Cross with 17:18 to play.

--Field Level Media

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