Jaron Pierre Jr. scored a season-high 35 points, including the decisive 3-pointer in overtime, as SMU outlasted Texas A&M 93-80 on Sunday afternoon in the Hoop Hype XL Matchup at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.Pierre scored SMU’s first seven points in overtime, including a stepback 3-pointer with 2:38 left to give the Mustangs a five-point lead. Two free throws each by Boopie Miller and Corey Washington added to the Mustangs’ advantage as the Aggies missed free throws in the final minutes to short-circuit their comeback chances.Miller finished with 19 points while Washington had 14 and Samet Yigitoglu racked up 12 points and eight boards for SMU (9-1), which bounced back from its only loss of the season. B.J. Edwards recorded a near triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and 11 assists.Marcus Hill paced Texas A&M (7-3) with a season-high 25 points. Mackenzie Mgbako and Rashaun Agee added 13 each for the Aggies, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.The Mustangs, playing their third straight game against a Southeastern Conference opponent, led by 14 points at halftime but just 53-51 with 11:32 to play after a rousing Texas A&M charge.A&M went in front on a steal by Rylan Griffen and a layup by Mgbako with 2:07 to play. Pop Issacs’ 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining increased the Aggies’ lead to four points before Edwards made a pair of free throws with 36.2 seconds left to bring SMU to within two. A Pierre layup 11 seconds later tied the game at 77-77 and ultimately produced the extra period.
