Against a Northwestern State team that SMU beat 81-35 last season, the Mustangs won just 69-58 in an uninspiring opener Thursday night.
SMU missed 3-pointers and committed fouls to keep Northwestern State in the game for the first half, before extending its lead to double digits in the second.
The Mustangs led 34-29 at halftime, before Jimmy Whitt sparked an 18-6 run to open the second half and put the game out of reach. Whitt played with a frenetic energy on defense and scored 12 second half points. He finished the night with a team-high 19.
SMU’s first half lead was slim, partially because Northwestern State center Ishmael Lane, who totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds on the night.