The Connecticut Huskies were about to do it again. They were going to make another run through a tournament they had no business winning. SMU had different plans, though. The Mustangs went into Hartford, Conn., and dominated the defending NCAA champions, 62-54, to win the American Athletic Conference tournament and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
SMU wins 2015 American Athletic Conference basketball tournament: Mustangs end UConn’s tournament hopes
UConn needed a win to make the NCAA Tournament.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The selection committee was unkind to SMU last year, leaving them out of the tournament, but the Mustangs won't have to wait on the decision this year. Markus Kennedy led SMU with 15 points and six rebounds. Head coach Larry Brown, in his third season with SMU, will make his first appearance in the NCAA tournament since he coached Kansas to a national title in 1988. SMU, who was ranked No. 20 nationally entering the game, won the regular season title in the AAC as well. They're 27-6 heading into the tournament.
After winning the NCAA title a year ago, UConn needed a win over SMU to make the NCAA Tournament and defend its crown. The Huskies struggled to a 20-14 record this season, but almost found enough magic to win their conference tournament. Instead, SMU spoiled the party.
SMU led 33-19 at the break and were up by as many as 17 in the second half. But UConn kept within striking distance, mostly thanks to the play of Rodney Purvis, and they kept on chipping away at the SMU lead. They pulled to within eight with 7:27 to play, then pulled to within six with less than six to go. It was even a five-point game with just over two minutes to play and it seemed the Huskies were going to pull off a crazy victory again, but SMU held on down the stretch to win.
Ryan Boatright, who hit a game-winner over Cincinnati, didn't score a field goal in the first half for UConn and had just seven points in the game. Purvis had a career-high 29 points.
It’s the Mustangs’ first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1993, when they lost to BYU in the first round.
See More:
