DALLAS (AP) – Papa Dia went 10-for-10, scoring 23 points to pace SMU to a 79-65 victory over Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
The Mustangs (11-8, 2-3 Conference USA) shot 69.8 percent (30 of 43) in the second-best shooting performance in school history.
Robert Nyakundi scored 16 points, Collin Mangrum 15 and Rodney Clinkscales 12 for SMU, which broke a two-game losing streak and won for the ninth time in its last 11 home games.
Angelo Johnson’s 16 points led the Golden Eagles (14-5, 3-3), and Gary Flowers had 12.
The Mustangs also made 12 of 18 3-pointers (66.7 percent), with Clinkscales hitting four and Mangrum and Nyakundi three each.
Dia blocked four shots to pass 100 for his career at 102, and Jeremiah Samarrippas had a career-high nine assists.
SMU led 59-52 with 6:09 left, then went on 9-0 run keyed by five points by Dia to seal the win.
