DALLAS (Interstat) — In a display of offensive firepower and consistent execution, the SMU Mustangs opened their season with a commanding 96-76 victory over the Tarleton State Texans on Monday night at Moody Coliseum.

A crowd of 4,626 watched as the Mustangs, heavily favored by advanced metrics, lived up to their billing, leading from start to finish and never allowing the visiting Texans to mount a serious challenge. The win gave SMU a 1-0 record to begin the campaign, while Tarleton State fell to 0-1.

The story of the game was SMU’s remarkable scoring consistency and a balanced offensive attack that featured five players scoring in double figures. The Mustangs scored 48 points in each half, a testament to their sustained pressure and efficient shot-making. Conversely, Tarleton State was held to 38 points in both the first and second periods, unable to find a rhythm against SMU’s defensive efforts.

SMU’s backcourt duo of Boopie Miller and B.J. Edwards set the tone for the evening. Miller, despite playing only 27 minutes, was a dynamic force, pouring in 20 points and dishing out five assists. His backcourt partner, Edwards, logged a team-high 35 minutes and matched Miller’s scoring output with 20 points of his own, adding four assists in a steady, commanding performance.

Complementing the guards was a strong showing from the wing, where Jaron Pierre Jr. emerged as a primary scoring threat. Pierre contributed a game-high 21 points in 29 minutes of action, providing a constant scoring punch that kept the Texans’ defense off balance. In the frontcourt, Corey Washington added 16 points and Samet Yigitoglu delivered a well-rounded performance with 12 points, three assists and three blocked shots, anchoring the defense in the paint.

For Tarleton State, the lone bright spot was the individual effort of guard Dior Johnson. The Kingston, New York, native shouldered the scoring load for the Texans, tallying 23 points in just 23 minutes on the floor. Freddy Hicks provided secondary support with 15 points and five assists, while DJ Dormu and Chris Mpaka each chipped in 10 points. Mpaka, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward from Kinshasa, Congo, also recorded a block.

Despite the efforts of Johnson and Hicks, the Texans could not overcome SMU’s superior depth and offensive efficiency. The Mustangs’ ability to generate high-percentage shots and their balanced scoring proved too much for Tarleton State to handle. The Interstat ELO system had projected SMU with a 94.60 percent probability to win, and the on-court product reflected that lopsided expectation.

The game was the first of a challenging early-season stretch for Tarleton State, which now looks ahead to a quick turnaround. The Texans are scheduled to travel to face LSU on Wednesday, Nov. 5, followed by a home contest against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, Nov. 8. Their non-conference slate remains daunting, with a road game at Baylor on Nov. 14 and a trip to Cincinnati on Dec. 1.

For SMU, the victory provides momentum as they prepare for a homestand. The Mustangs’ next test comes on Thursday, Nov. 6, when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Their non-conference schedule features several high-profile home games, including matchups against Murray State on Nov. 11, Butler on Nov. 15, and a neutral-site contest against Texas A&M on Dec. 7 in Arlington. A key early-season road test awaits at Mississippi State on Nov. 28.

The Mustangs will aim to build on this decisive opening performance as they navigate the early part of their schedule, while the Texans will seek to regroup and find their first win of the season against a gauntlet of formidable opponents.