SMU Basketball ends season with failed comeback bid against Washington State
SMU Basketball fell behind 39-20 at the half to Washington State on Sunday in the NIT second round, but the comeback effort in the second half fell short. The Mustangs perfect Moody Coliseum record and season ended in a 75-63 loss to the Cougars.
“We was able to fight and claw our way in the second half, but today was one of them days,” Kendric Davis said. “They made big shots down the stretch that just kept us away. Got to tip your hat to them. Ain’t nobody in this building can beat us and they did today. We dug ourself a hole we couldn’t get out of.”
SMU exploded for a 43-point second half, led by point Kendric Davis notching 30 points. It could be the final game at SMU for Davis, the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
“If he’s not back, what an amazing three-year run that he’s had,” head coach Tim Jankovich said after the game. “This year, to be the player of the year on its own is incredibly difficult to do, but we know what all he was going through behind the scenes emotionally, it’s kind of mind boggling really that he has that kind of strength and fortitude. He’s just been fantastic.
“He’s been a great, great player. We’ll se what the future holds. I hope that his future is a long, long time in basketball. That’s my wish for him and I think that will be the case.”
Davis opted to return for the 2021-22 season, forgoing a shot at the pro ranks. It paid off with the conference’s top honor for him and now he’ll face the same decision.
“We’ll see. I honestly couldn’t tell you today, but it is an option to come back,” Davis said. “I’m going to go through the same process that I went through every year. Take time, talk to my family and if it’s best for my career to return back to SMU, I’ll be here.”
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Washington State answered blow-for-blow even as SMU cut it to a 4-point game in the second half. Michael Flowers, Efe Abogidi and TJ Bamba scored 22, 12 and 13 points for WSU, respectively.
It was another poor shooting night for SMU, hitting just 38 percent of its shots, but even worse from beyond the arc with a 4-for-20 effort. Washington State also outrebounded SMU, 46-32.
Guard Michael Weathers was the other Mustang in double-figures, scoring 16 points.
SMU Basketball head coach Tim Jankovich was in the final year of his contract so his future now becomes the biggest question for the program. SMU finished 24-9 overall in 2021-22, finishing second in the AAC during the regular season.
“We knew all along it was a special group,” Davis added. “Started out kind of slow, everybody trying to get to know each other. Took a little time. Once it got going, it was special.”
