SMU Tops Oral Roberts 64-57 In Overtime In CIT First Round

DALLAS (SMU) — Papa Dia had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots as SMU defeated Oral Roberts 64-57 in overtime in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). It is the first postseason win for SMU since the first round of the 1988 NCAA Tournament and the first postseason appearance for the Mustangs since the NIT in 2000. SMU will host Jacksonville in the second round of the CIT on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Justin Haynes had seven points and had two critical free throws for the Mustangs (18-14). Haynes stepped to the line with SMU leading 58-57 with 28 seconds left in overtime and extended SMU’s lead to 60-57. Oral Roberts (19-16) turned the ball over before SMU finished the game with two free throws each by Robert Nyakundi and Mike Walker.

Nyakundi totaled 15 points for SMU, going 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Harp was also 4-of-4 as SMU finished 18-of-22 overall at the line.

Dominique Morrison led ORU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Warren Niles scored 13 points and Damen Bell-Holter had 10.

SMU shot 45.8 percent to 39.3 for Oral Roberts. SMU led 24-22 at halftime and the game was tied at 52-52 after regulation.