SMU Tops Kent State

Senior guard Nic Moore compiled 25 points, eight assists and four steals to help No. 18 SMU beat Kent State 90-74 in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Classic on Tuesday night at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Junior guard Keith Frazier came off the bench to post 19 points and 10 rebounds for SMU (10-0). Senior forward Jordan Tolbert had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Mustangs coach Larry Brown was back after serving a nine-game NCAA suspension to start the season.

Freshman guard Jaylin Walker scored 20 points to lead Kent State (7-3). Junior forward Jimmy Hall had 13 points.

SMU jumped out to a 10-2 lead over the first 2:19 and went up 16-6 on a jumper by Moore. Kent State cut the deficit to three on a 3-pointer by senior guard Xavier Pollard with 7:02 to go before the break, but the Mustangs responded with an 11-1 run and extended their lead to 14 points on a 3-pointer by Frazier with 2:35 remaining until halftime.

The Mustangs led 41-33 at intermission and regained a double-digit lead early in the second half. The Golden Flashes battled back to get within five on a layup by senior forward Chris Ortiz with 15:01 to go, but the Mustangs answered with an 8-0 run to take control.