CINCINNATI — SMU’s tough season ended with one of its ugliest losses.
The 24th-ranked Mustangs couldn’t overcome their turnovers or take advantage of Cincinnati’s cold shooting, falling 61-54 on Sunday.
It was a final disappointment for SMU (25-5, 13-5 American Athletic), which is banned from postseason play because of NCAA rules violations. Players embraced on the court after the final buzzer.
SMU chose not to appeal the postseason ban or the nine-game suspension for coach Larry Brown. The NCAA found that a former basketball assistant had completed online course work to make a student eligible for admission to the school. Current players were disappointed that the school chose not to challenge the penalty.
“We lost to a really good team in a great environment,” Brown said. “We had a heck of a year.”
Ben Moore had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs. Senior point guard Nic Moore had 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
“It’s tough for them to have their season end and have no postseason,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “They showed a lot of character. Most teams would not have played the way they did for entire year.”
The Bearcats (22-9, 12-6) shot 29.5 percent from the field overall, including 1 of 19 from beyond the arc.
They made a difference at the free throw line, going 24 of 30. Troy Caupain had a team-high 14 points, making only 4 of 19 shots while missing all six from beyond the arc.
The Bearcats were coming off a 69-56 loss at Houston and figured they needed some wins to make the NCAA Tournament. Their defense got this one, holding the Mustangs to a season low in points. SMU beat Cincinnati 59-57 in Dallas on Jan. 7, which was previously the Mustangs’ lowest point total of the season.
“Since I’ve been at SMU, these are the most fun games,” Brown said. “These games with Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, Tulsa, Memphis — those are programs that have some kind of history. It seems that anytime kids put on a Cincinnati jersey, you know they’re going to play hard and you’ve got to match their energy.”
Neither team could make an open shot at the outset. SMU pulled ahead 11-6 after 8 minutes despite shooting only 4 of 12 from the field. The Bearcats were worse, going 3 of 17 and missing all seven of their shots from beyond the arc.
Cincinnati was only 5 of 23 from the field when Caupain led its first run. He had a pull-up jumper and two free throws during an 8-0 spurt that put the Bearcats ahead to stay 21-16. Cincinnati led 34-27 at the half, with the teams going a combined 3 of 20 from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati: Plays Friday in the AAC Tournament.
No. 15 Purdue 91, Wisconsin 80
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Freshman Caleb Swanigan scored a career-high 27 points and sophomore P.J. Thompson also set a career best with 22, leading No. 15 Purdue to a victory against Wisconsin on Sunday.
A.J. Hammons added 16 points and Vince Edwards had 11 for the Boilermakers (24-7, 12-6), who forced a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten with Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Purdue earned the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will play in Friday’s second semifinal against an opponent to be determined.
Nigel Hayes led Wisconsin (20-11, 12-6) with 30 points, including 18 in the second half. The Badgers earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament and will play Thursday in Indianapolis’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Badgers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped, are the reigning Big Ten Tournament champs.
No. 12 Indiana 80, No. 14 Maryland 62
INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell had 17 points in his final home game while Troy Williams matched his career high with 23 points to lead No. 12 Indiana past No. 14 Maryland.
With the win, the Big Ten champion Hoosiers (25-6, 15-3) finished 17-0 at home and completed their first perfect season at Assembly Hall since 2006-07.
Melo Trimble had 17 points and Robert Carter added 14 for Maryland (24-7, 12-6) which heads into the conference tournament with four losses in its last six games.
After falling into an early eight-point deficit, the Hoosiers tied the score at 18, took control with a 14-3 run and closed the first half on a 9-0 spurt to take a 41-28 lead.
Maryland couldn’t get closer than nine points in the second half.
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