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The 2-1-4: SMU Basketball falls to Top 25 Dayton

On3 imageby:Billy Embody•11/13/22•

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SMU's Samuell Williamson. (Matt Visinsky - On3)

SMU Basketball fell 74-62 against Dayton on Friday. The loss dropped the Mustangs to 1-1 on the year, but Rob Lanier’s team didn’t go down without a fight against the Top 25 Flyers.

Up next for SMU is a matchup against New Mexico on Tuesday inside Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

On The Pony Express’ Liam Fitzgibbon breaks down the loss in the 2-1-4.

Two postgame quotes

“I was proud of our guys in a lot of ways. To be down double digits in this atmosphere in both halves and to each time to claw back into the game, there was a display of character and toughness as we’re trying to develop our identity as a program and a team, I thought we put a good foot forward. We got a lot of work to do, but today was a good example of the possibilities that this team has.” -Rob Lanier

“We’ve got to get better offensively. Moving the ball, sharing it, cutting and moving without the basketball. I hate it for our guys because we’re going to watch the film and they’re going to be kicking themselves that we put ourselves in a tough position with our offense.” -Rob Lanier.

One SMU player of the game

Samuell Williamson: Although Nutall led SMU in scoring, Williamson was the one who truly kept them in the game down the stretch. The Mustangs need him to continue that stretch of form as they continue to find their identity as a team.

Four takeaways from the Dayton game

SMU has to get better at rebounding: SMU hung around with No. 24 Dayton for most of the game, but got absolutely killed on the glass for the majority of the game. Thirty to 23 on the boards against a ranked team might seem close, but it was anything but. If SMU wants to hang around with teams come conference play then they need to improve, soon.

Zach Nutall has big night: Nutall looked like his Southern Conference POY self in the first half, keeping the Mustangs in the game. Although he missed some big shots in the second half, you cannot overestimate the role that he had in keeping it a close game.

Emergence of Samuell Williamson: Samuell Williamson showed exactly why SMU was so high on him. Although it was a fairly passive 1st half from the Rockwall (Tex.) product, he came alive in the second half. Besides a barrage of buckets, Williamson was all over the glass, both offensive and defensive. Although in a losing effort, Williamson showed a lot of promise that SMU can look to build upon.

Need to get better in the offensive post: SMU really hurt itself down low last night. A 2-of-12 showing from Efe Odigie leaves much to be desired from a team that gets it down low often. Mo Njie and Keon Ambrose-Hylton flashed at times, but SMU needs Xavier Foster back, and to be the post presence that coach Rob Lanier has mentioned that he can be.

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