Sooner Bummer

SMU 'Embarrassing' in 69-42 thumping at OU

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this year to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA sports coverage. Today, our SMU Correspondent Rick Atkinson brings you his weekly SMU basketball update.

NORMAN, Okla. – Listen closely. The sound you hear is Nikes pounding the court at SMU’s Moody Coliseum. After last night’s performance against OU, the Mustangs’ cardiovascular health may soon improve immensely.

"This was embarrassing," Doherty said. "We showed no toughness."

Asked how he’d get the 9-2 Ponies ready for the next game, Doherty didn’t hesitate.

"Probably run ‘em," he said. "And see who’s tough enough to handle it."

It was thorough domination by the Sooners, who improved to 8-3. SMU shot 30 percent from the field and had no answer for center Longar Longar, who finished with a game-high 20 points and 15 rebounds.

"Longar Longar is a difference maker for them," Doherty said.

A 17-0 run gave the Sooners a 20-5 lead six minutes in, but the Mustangs battled back with 10 unanswered to trail, 20-15. As SMU’s defense tightened and OU’s shooting cooled, things looked interesting.

But badly-needed buckets wouldn’t fall for the Mustangs and turnovers squandered other opportunities.

The Sooners pulled away by halftime, 33-22, and shot 65 percent the rest of the way to bury SMU.

Devon Pearson led the Mustangs with 15 points. Jon Killen and Donatas Rackauskas added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Pearson and Killen also combined for five steals.

"One person that showed a little toughness was Jon Killen," Doherty said.

SMU’s Ike Ofoegbu, who picked up his third and fourth foul in the first minute of the second half, was shutout in points (0-2) and rebounds.

But, Doherty didn’t blame foul trouble.

"No, no, fouls had nothing to do with it," he said. "Guys who want out, will foul. And then, they don’t want to be a part of the game." Ouch.

"They whipped our butt inside," Doherty said, alluding to OU’s 31 points in the paint to SMU’s 8.

The Mustangs were outrebounded, 37-29, and the Sooners picked up 14 points off turnovers.

Things had been rolling along nicely, with SMU coming off a dramatic 64-62 road win at TCU a week ago. In that one, junior guard Dez Willingham stuck a dagger in the Frogs with a 3 at the buzzer.

Before that, the Mustangs routed Centenary, 68-40, led by Derrick Roberts’ 19 points.

Now, with weaknesses glaringly exposed, SMU must regroup.

Three winnable games at home are next. If the Mustangs don’t win them and look good doing it, they may develop the most exquisitely refined and efficient cardiovascular systems in C-USA.

Next game: Saturday, December 30 vs. North Carolina A&T, 7 p.m.

Two after that: Thursday, January 4 vs. Texas-Pan American, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 6 vs. Brown University, 7 p.m.

*NEW FEATURE*

Each week, Ronnie Perry, who’s followed SMU basketball since 1957, will comment from a longtime fan’s perspective. He traveled to Norman last night.

Ronnie Sez: "I think [SMU] seemed to be intimidated, for some reason, by Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s had a national reputation for quite a few years. Kelvin Sampson had ‘em in the Final Four, I think, in 2002. But … we just seemed like we were intimidated by going into a Big 12 arena like that."

Did you know?

• Doherty remains one shy of his 100 th career coaching win.
• NBA veteran George Lynch has joined SMU’s staff as administrative assistant/graduate manager. Lynch was a member of North Carolina’s1993 NCAA Championship team.
• Doherty begins a weekly one-hour radio show January 8 at 6 p.m. on KAAM 770 AM. Broadcast from Ten Sports Grill in downtown Dallas, it runs through March 26. After the premier, start times shift to 7 p.m. The show will also be available on smumustangs.com.
• 7-11 near OU campus charges no ATM fees. Was told by 7-11 dude that all 7-11s in Oklahoma are like that. Still don’t think I’ll move there.