SMU took control early and never gave it back Tuesday night, beating Prairie View A&M 98-63 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. Jaden Toombs led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals as the Mustangs improved to 3-0.
That is the kind of result that gets attention because it came against a Prairie View A&M team that entered first in the SWAC. The Mustangs were already in front 52-36 at halftime, then turned the game decisively with a 12-0 run in the second half and stretched the margin as high as 42 points. SMU never trailed.
Toombs gave SMU the interior edge, but he was not alone. Jermaine O'Neal Jr. added 14 points and six rebounds, while Rowan Brumbaugh finished with 11 points and three assists. The balance helped SMU keep the pressure on even after building the initial cushion, and it left Prairie View A&M chasing the game from the opening minutes.
Anthony Gause did what he could for Prairie View A&M with 26 points, four assists and four blocks, and Elijah Mitchell added nine points and four rebounds. Even so, the Panthers could not make the scoreline reflect their standing, and the road form tells part of the story: they are now 0-2 away from home after dropping to 2-2 overall and losing their second straight game.
For SMU, the win extends a three-game streak and keeps the early season moving in the right direction. The next test comes Friday, Nov. 13, when SMU hosts Ball State at 9:00 p.m. ET. Prairie View A&M will try to steady itself the same night at Vanderbilt at 7:00 p.m. ET.
