SMU's Zhuric Phelps' Shooting Saves Day Against UAB

DALLAS — SMU didn't make a 72-69 win over Alabama-Birmingham easy. After being down by 12 with less than 10 minutes left in the game, it looked for a big until they might give it all back. The Mustangs can thank Zhuric Phelps for the lead and two free throws at the end to ice it.

Phelps' three-pointer with 2:29 gave the Ponies a lead. The Blazers never could get that lead back. UAB got within a point, but Phelps nailed two free throws with 3.9 left to close it when UAB's desperation shot at the buzzer wasn't really close.

"He had been shooting the ball really well in practice," SMU coach Rob Lanier said later. "He sat down and shot the ball with great confidence to tie the game and obviously a big shot by Ricardo and then some big free throws late by Zurich. Just just all of that."

Samuell Williamson had 14 points in SMU's 72-69 victory over UAB on Sunday night.

Williamson added six rebounds for the Mustangs (15-7, 6-3 American Athletic Conference). Chuck Harris scored 14 points and added five assists. Zhuric Phelps shot 4 for 10 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.

Efrem Johnson led the Blazers (14-8, 6-3) in scoring, finishing with 20 points. UAB also got 10 points from Christian Coleman. Yaxel Lendeborg also recorded nine points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

Williamson scored six points in the first half for SMU, who led 32-27 at the break. SMU pulled off the victory after an 8-0 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 70-65 with 57 seconds remaining in the half. Harris scored 10 second-half points.

The Blazers had built a 12-point lead at one point, but there was no panic from the Ponies. Lanier didn't appear to be overly concerned and that carried over to the team.

"Even when they went up by I think 12, I still had a level of confidence based on the energy I was getting from our guys," he said. "The level of communication, focus and their understanding of how long the game is. There wasn't that sense of panic I was trying to talk them out of. We were just talking about what needed to happen on the court. And obviously, made some some defensive stops late in the game and the pressure helped us a little bit."

The win gaves Mustangs' fans a sigh of relief. They needed this with the AAC schedule headed in the stretch run. SMU is now 15-7 overall and 6-3 in the league. Now they head to Houston on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. matchup with Rice. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and you can listen in Dallas on KAAM 770-AM.

PONY EXPRESS:

EX-MUSTANGS WIDE RECEIVER RASHEE RICE WILL BE COUNTED ON BY PATRICK MAHOMES AFTER CATCHING MOST TDS ON TEAM

IF NEW ALLIANCE RESULTS IN DEATH PENALTY FOR NCAA, NOBODY AT SMU WILL BE SHEDDING TEARS

SMU GETS SHOT AT WIN AGAINST UNT, BUT FALL SHORT IN CRUCIAL CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN

MUSTANGS LOSE KEY PROTECTOR FOR PRESTON STONE

• Return to allPonies home page

• Follow us on TWITTER