DALLAS (AP)—Derek Williams scored 18 points and Papa Dia added 10 points and 13 rebounds as Southern Methodist held off a late charge by Huston-Tillotson for a 69-65 victory Monday night.
The Mustangs (2-2) scored a season-high 38 first-half points and led by as many as 18 in the second before the Rams gave them a scare in the final minutes.
SMU led 61-51 with 5:37 to go, but Huston-Tillotson, an NAIA school, then went on a 14-7 run to pull within 68-65 with 17 seconds remaining. After Paul McCoy made one of two free throws to give the Mustangs a four-point cushion, the Rams missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Davetom Odom led Huston-Tillotson with 20 points and Darrell Glover added 18.
SMU failed to make a 3-pointer for the first time since Nov. 22, 2005, finishing 0 for 11 from long range.
SMU led 38-23 at halftime.
