SMU Advances to CIT Semifinals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (SMU) – Papa Dia had 17 points and grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds as SMU defeated Northern Iowa 57-50 in the quarterfinal round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at McLeod Center Monday night. The Mustangs are the first team to advance to the CIT semifinals and will host either Santa Clara (21-14) or San Francisco (19-14) at Moody Coliseum on March 25 at 7 p.m.

Dia had 16th double-double of the season and 29th of his career. The senior had 15 points and 12 rebounds heading in to the half. His 21 boards were the most by a Mustang since Jon Koncak collected 21 rebounds in 1985.

Collin Mangrum and Robert Nyakundi added 11 points each. Mangrum also had three rebounds and five assists, while Nyakundi went 3-of-5 from behind the arc to extend his new school record of 3FG made in a season to 93.

After falling behind in the opening minutes, the Mustangs regained the lead 4:26 in to the game and never looked back. SMU has won three postseason games in the same year for just the second time in school history (1956 team won three to advance to the NCAA Final Four).

The Mustangs outrebounded Northern Iowa 30-24, and turned in their best defensive effort of the season. They held the Panthers to 14-for-51 from the field – 5-of-25 from beyond the arc – while Ahelegbe led Northern Iowa with 18 points.

For tickets to Friday’s CIT semifinal game, call 214-768-4263.