DALLAS (AP) — In an exhilarating finish, Boopie Miller’s remarkable half-court shot as time expired lifted SMU to a narrow victory over Virginia Tech, cementing a final score of 77-76 on Wednesday night. The Mustangs, improving to 13-4 for the season with a 2-2 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, showcased resilience despite trailing for the majority of the match.
Miller emerged as the star of the game, tallying a total of 24 points, including an impressive 19 in the second half, along with six assists. His game-winning shot was particularly notable as it marked his first successful three-pointer of the night, coming after he had missed his initial five attempts. On the night, he shot 6 of 15 from the field and was particularly effective at the free-throw line, hitting 11 of his 16 attempts.
The adrenaline surged in the closing moments of the contest. With just 1.7 seconds left, Jaron Pierre Jr. collected a crucial rebound following a missed free throw from Virginia Tech. After both teams called timeouts, B.J. Edwards delivered a perfect pass to Miller, who then executed a quick two-dribble before sending the ball soaring from half court.
Despite battling from behind for all but 1 minute and 13 seconds during the second half, SMU managed to keep the deficit within single digits for most of the game. Samet Yigitoglu contributed 14 points, while Pierre Jr. added 13 points and nine rebounds, helping to lead the Mustangs to break a two-game losing streak. Additionally, Jaden Toombs made an impact with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Hokies (13-5, 2-3), Jailen Bedford led the scoring with 22 points, and Jaden Schutt added 15. However, Virginia Tech struggled at the free-throw line, finishing with only 61% overall and a disappointing 43% in the second half, while SMU fared better with a 70% success rate.
Looking ahead, the Mustangs will host Virginia on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, providing another opportunity for the team to build on their recent success, while Virginia Tech will return home to face Notre Dame, hoping to bounce back from this narrow defeat.