DALLAS (AP) — Freshman Jakub Szumert scored 24 points to lead SMU over Southern 85-72 on Monday night in the season opener for both teams.

Szumert, a 6-foot-9 forward from Poland, shot 5 of 6 from the floor and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Jermaine O’Neal Jr. added 15 points for SMU. Jaden Toombs scored nine points to go with a team-high eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

SMU took the lead for good late in the first half and led 40-38 at the break. The Mustangs opened the second with an 11-2 run, and Southern answered with a 9-1 spurt to pull to 52-49 but didn’t get closer.

R’Chaun King and Karez Demory each came off the bench to score 12 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Southern. They also each had three of the Jaguars’ 17 steals.

Coach Andy Enfield began his third season with SMU, coming off the Mustangs’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.

In the previous meeting between the teams, Southern overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat SMU 75-61 in the season opener for both teams on Nov. 10, 2007.

Up next

Southern: At TCU on Friday.

SMU: Plays VMI for the first time in the second game of a six-game homestand on Thursday.

___

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full men’s basketball coverage here