STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth battle that required an extra period to decide, the SMU Mustangs remained undefeated, outlasting the Mississippi State Bulldogs 87-81 in a non-conference men’s basketball thriller Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum.

Before an announced crowd of 7,810, the Mustangs improved to 8-0, while the Bulldogs fell to 3-4.

The game was a tale of two halves and an overtime dominated by the visiting team. Mississippi State controlled the opening period, taking a 43-39 lead into halftime behind a potent offensive display. The Bulldogs’ lead, however, was slowly eroded in the second half as SMU’s defense tightened. The Mustangs outscored Mississippi State 35-31 after the break to force a 74-74 tie at the end of regulation.

Overtime belonged entirely to SMU. The Mustangs’ offense found another gear, scoring 13 points, while their defense smothered the Bulldogs, holding them to just seven. The surge in the extra frame sealed the hard-fought road victory for SMU.

The Mustangs were propelled by a spectacular performance from guard Boopie Miller. The Chicago native was the game’s leading scorer, pouring in 28 points over 39 minutes of action. He was instrumental in the overtime period, making critical shots and free throws to secure the win.

Miller received crucial support from teammate Jaron Pierre. The junior from New Orleans matched Miller’s 39 minutes on the court and contributed 24 points, providing a consistent secondary scoring threat that Mississippi State struggled to contain.

For the Bulldogs, the backcourt duo of Jayden Epps and Ja’Borri McGhee shouldered much of the offensive load. Epps, from Norfolk, Virginia, finished with 21 points, while McGhee, a hometown product from Mccomb, added 17 points. Their efforts, however, were not enough to counter SMU’s late-game execution.

Corey Washington provided a vital presence for SMU, playing a game-high 41 minutes and adding 12 points. His endurance and contributions across both halves were key to the Mustangs weathering Mississippi State’s early storm. In the paint, SMU’s 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu of Istanbul, Turkey, impacted the game defensively with a pair of blocks.

Mississippi State’s Quincy Ballard, a 7-foot center from Syracuse, New York, was a force inside, scoring 12 points and altering numerous shots. Teammate Josh Hubbard from Madison, Mississippi, chipped in 16 points in the losing effort.

The game was a statistical nail-biter, with the final outcome hanging in the balance until the final moments of overtime. SMU’s ability to make key stops and convert offensive opportunities in the extra period proved to be the ultimate difference.

The victory extends SMU’s promising start to the season, which includes recent wins over Radford, Arkansas State, and a tight victory against Butler. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have now lost four of their last five games after a season-opening win against North Alabama. Mississippi State’s recent schedule featured an overtime win against New Orleans and a close loss to New Mexico.

SMU will look to continue its unbeaten streak when it travels to face Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Mississippi State will also hit the road for its next contest, taking on Georgia Tech on Wednesday.