Oquendo’s 25 points help SMU steamroll Notre Dame

Kario Oquendo scored 15 of his 25 points in the first half, and behind an offensive onslaught, SMU had little trouble dispatching Notre Dame, 97-73, on Wednesday night in South Bend, Ind.Despite the unavailability of leading scorer Boopie Miller — who missed a second consecutive game with a foot injury — SMU (20-6, 11-4 ACC) shot 58.6 percent from the floor, and made 17 of its first 25 field goal attempts to take a 50-25 lead into halftime.The Mustangs galloped away from the Fighting Irish behind their efficient shooting, as Oquendo, Samet Yigitoglu, Matt Cross and Chuck Harris scored in double figures.SMU reached the 20-win mark with the victory, recording consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time since 2015-2017.Notre Dame (11-15, 5-10) lost for the fifth time in the last six games, struggling to contain the ACC’s top-scoring offense, as the Irish allowed 90 points at home for the first time since Feb. 11, 2023.Offensively, while Notre Dame closed on a 14-8 run and outscored SMU, 48-47, in the second half, the Irish were just 7-of-22 in the first 20 minutes. Braeden Shrewsberry led Notre Dame with 21 points.

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