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SMU takes down No. 17 UConn

Jan 5, 2014 - 6:48 AM Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Nic Moore scored a game-high 20 points to go along with six assists, and the SMU Mustangs defeated the No. 17 UConn Huskies, 74-65, from newly renovated Moody Coliseum.

Nick Russell finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Markus Kennedy chipped in with 10 points off the bench for the Mustangs (11-3, 1-1 AAC).

Ryan Boatright paced UConn (11-3, 0-2) with 15 points, while Shabazz Napier and Lasan Kromah added 12 points apiece in defeat.

SMU jumped out to a 10-4 lead following a three-point play from Yanick Moreira, but the Huskies answered with six straight to tie the game.

Omar Calhoun then made a three-point play that started an 8-0 spurt to give the Huskies an 18-13 lead.

The Mustangs countered with a 12-4 run that Sterling Brown capped with a 3- pointer which helped the hosts to a 25-22 advantage.

Ryan Boatright's 3 with six seconds left in the half staked UConn to a 33-32 lead at the break.

"I thought we were lucky the first half," said SMU coach Larry Brown. "We made shots but I thought we settled a little too much. They got us playing a little too fast."

After the lead changed hands a few times in the opening minutes of the second, UConn went in front with a Niels Giffey layup.

That would be the final lead of the day for the visitors.

Keith Frazier scored five straight for the Mustangs as part of a 7-0 sprint for a 47-41 advantage.

Russell kept the momentum going with a triple from the near corner to help the hosts to a 53-44 lead with seven minutes to play.

The margin stretched to 69-56 following a layup from Kennedy with 2:25 remaining and the Mustangs cruised to the finish.

Game Notes

UConn shot 18-of-49 (36.7 percent) from the field ... SMU outrebounded the Huskies 37-29 ... DeAndre Daniels scored 11 points in the loss ... SMU was 7- for-16 (43.8 percent) from deep.