Southern Methodist 53, Dayton 48

Nov 22, 2006, 06:07 pm

DALLAS (AP) -- Devon Pearson scored 12 points and hit the go-ahead free throws with 2:32 left to help SMU beat Dayton 53-48 Saturday night.

SMU (3-1) hit just 11-of-36 shots from the floor (31 percent) and did score from the field in the final 6:24.

Brian Roberts scored 21 points for Dayton (2-1).

Roberts hit a 3-pointer to give Dayton a 45-44 lead with 2:53 left.

Pearson gave the Mustangs the lead for good with two free throws and they connected on 9-of-10 foul shots over the final 2:32.

Derrick Roberts, who was 7-of-8 from the foul line, had 12 points for SMU.

Dayton shot 29 percent (15-of-52) from the floor.

SMU used an 8-1 run to end the first half to take a 24-22 lead. Pearson capped the surge with consecutive 3-pointers.