UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU wanted to move to the ACC for opportunities exactly like Saturday.
In front of a packed crowd at Moody Coliseum, the Mustangs (12-2) pulled off their biggest win in four years, upsetting No. 12 North Carolina (13-2) 97-83 in their ACC opener.
Point guard Boopie Miller and Wichita State transfer Corey Washington led SMU with 27 and 23 points apiece to knock off the Tar Heels, who before Saturday, had only fallen to No. 11 Michigan State this season.
The win is SMU’s first against a Quad 1 team (which is defined as beating a team ranked 1-30 at home, 1-50 on a neutral site and 1-75 on the road) since they beat Utah State on Dec. 23, 2022. It’s their first win over a ranked opponent since they beat No. 6 Houston on Feb. 9, 2022.
Sports Roundup
“This was a big game for us. It’s a big game in the standings. It’s a big game on the national stage,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “It’s our biggest win since we’ve been here.”
The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead Saturday with an 11-0 run in the first six minutes of the game. SMU led by as many as nine points in the first half.
SMU was able to maintain that lead through stellar 3-point shooting. The Mustangs finished 14-of-27 (51.9%) from beyond the arc. They also shot 60% from the field overall against a North Carolina team that ranks second in the nation in shooting defense (36.1%).
But late in the first half, a 13-2 run by the Tar Heels capped off by a 3-pointer from 7-foot center Henri Veesaar put UNC up 31-29.
A layup by Miller at the buzzer allowed SMU to tie the game at 39-39. Miller, in addition to leading all scorers, shot 10 of 13 from the field and added 12 assists for the double-double.
“He was terrific,” Enfield said. “He handled the ball most of the game. It was one of the best performances I’ve seen for a guard like this.”
However, it was Miller’s teammate Washington who helped the Mustangs build a lead early in the second half. Despite suffering a knee injury late in the first half, Washington scored nine points in the first three minutes of the second half, including two 3-pointers, to put SMU up 50-46. Through a team effort, SMU was able to grow that lead to as much as 16 points. The Mustangs never trailed in the second half.
BJ Edwards — fresh off his second triple-double of the season, making him the only player in the nation with two — also finished with 15 points, six assists and four rebounds. Jacksonville State transfer Jaron Pierre added 13 points, and true freshman Jaden Toombs had 12.
“We knew our guards had to play well,” Enfield said. “You can’t beat a team like this, as talented as Carolina is, without your guards playing well.”
That’s because North Carolina’s two leading scorers are their posts, Veesaar and Caleb Wilson. SMU held both below their season averages. The two players combined for 27 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Seth Trimble led the Tar Heels with 22 points.
The win caps off a stellar weekend for the university after its football team beat No. 17 Arizona at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego Friday night.
It is also a huge momentum-builder for Enfield’s team as it enters the heart of its season. The Mustangs have already recorded quality wins over Butler, Texas A&M and now No. 12 UNC. Their only losses were to two Quad 1 SEC teams — No. 17 Vanderbilt and LSU.
It won’t get any easier for the Mustangs. They’ll face three more ranked ACC opponents — No. 6 Duke, No. 21 Virginia and No. 16 Louisville — this month.
But Saturday’s win over a blue blood was a big step to help SMU build a resume worthy of an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in nine years.
“We have some goals we want to accomplish,” Enfield said. “Our players believe we can compete for an ACC championship. This is Game 1, so we’re not taking anything for granted, but they want to go compete, and I think you saw that today.”
On X/Twitter: @Lassimak
Upset city! See photos from SMU basketball’s victory over No. 12 North Carolina at Moody Coliseum
View Gallery2026 NCAA football transfer portal: Tracking moves for Texas Tech, SMU, other area schoolsSMU linebacker Zakye Barker announces plan to enter transfer portal