SMU Defeats Syracuse 86–69 Behind Boopie Miller’s 25 Points.

The No. 11 seed SMU Mustangs defeated the No. 14 seed Syracuse Orange 86–69 in the opening round of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. Guard Boopie Miller led SMU with 25 points, helping five starters score in double figures. Jaden Toombs and Samet Yigitoglu both recorded double-doubles as SMU advanced to the second round of the tournament. SMU, now 20–12 on the season, entered the tournament after losing four straight ACC games but responded with a strong performance against Syracuse. Toombs dominated early, recording a double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Miller added 11 points in the opening period as SMU held a narrow 39–38 lead at halftime. Syracuse guard Nate Kingz led the Orange in the first half with 17 points. The Mustangs gained control of the game midway through the second half. During a decisive 13–0 scoring run, Jaron Pierre Jr. knocked down three consecutive three-pointers to extend SMU’s lead to 69–48 with just over eight minutes remaining. Pierre later hit his fifth three-pointer of the half, helping secure the victory. Pierre finished the game with 21 points for SMU. Toombs contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Yigitoglu added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Corey Washington also scored 12 points. Notably, SMU’s bench attempted only two shots throughout the game.

For Syracuse, Kingz finished with a team-high 25 points, and Tyler Betsey added 15. However, the Orange struggled from beyond the arc, making only 9 of their 34 three-point attempts, shooting just 26 percent. With the win, SMU moves on to face the No. 6 seed and 24th-ranked Louisville in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The two teams split their regular-season matchups, with each winning on their home court. Syracuse ends its season with a 15–17 record and a six-game losing streak.