Chuck Harris scored 13 of his 20 points in the final 12 minutes to give SMU the late boost it needed in an 81-75 win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday in Blacksburg, Va.
Matt Cross provided 21 points and seven rebounds as the Mustangs (18-5, 9-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for the seventh time in their last eight games.
Kario Oquendo hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points while Samet Yigitoglu added 12 points and seven rebounds as SMU continued its strong play in its first season in the ACC. Wednesday marked the Mustangs’ first-ever meeting with Virginia Tech.
Mylyjael Poteat produced 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Hokies (10-13, 5-7), who made 45.8 percent of their shots and went 8-of-25 (32 percent) from 3-point range.
Jaden Schutt contributed 15 points and Ben Burnham added 12 points as Virginia Tech had its two-game win streak snapped.
In a nip-and-tuck game in which neither team led by more than six points in the first 38 minutes, the Mustangs pulled away late.
A step-back 3-pointer by Cross with 1:23 left gave SMU the game’s biggest lead, 77-68.
The Hokies closed within two points before Boopie Miller hit a pair of free throws to put the Mustangs up 79-75 with 15 seconds left. Cross capped the scoring with two more foul shots with five seconds to play.
SMU was buoyed in the second half by 59.3 percent shooting from the floor and 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) accuracy from 3-point range.
That came after the Mustangs made only 38.2 percent of their shots in the first half, including 4 of 13 (30.8 percent) from long range.
In a game that was tied 12 times and had nine lead changes, Virginia Tech gained its final advantage when Tyler Johnson hit a 3-pointer to put the Hokies up 61-59 with 7:50 left.
But over the next two minutes, Harris rolled inside for two layups and drilled a triple to put the Mustangs in front for good at 66-63.
Cross and Harris each added a 3-pointer to push the lead to nine before Virginia Tech rallied.
Schutt drained a 3-pointer, and then after a steal by Ben Hammond, Tobi Lawal made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 77-73 with 1:06 left.
After SMU missed a 3-point try, Hammond made two free throws to make it 77-75 with 20 seconds remaining.
