Last season the SMU Mustangs lost their opening game of the American Athletic Conference. As a result, the team missed the NCAA Tournament. They were not going to let that happen this time around. 

The Mustangs, ranked No. 20, fended off the East Carolina Pirates 74-68. The Mustangs and Pirates were tied 64-64 with 4:30 left in the game. However, in what felt like a flash, SMU went on a 10-4 run to close the game and win. Eight of the 10 points came from the charity stripe. That helped prove the difference.

American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Nic Moore dropped 20 points and added five assists to the SMU win. He was easily the best player on the court and showed his dominance at all times. 

The Mustangs shot 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from downtown. They went 19-for-28 from the free throw line, which is 68 percent. 

Leading the Pirates, Terry Whisnant and Antonio Robinson scored 36 points in total, 18 each. Whisnant had six rebounds and half as many steals in the loss. Robinson had six assists, most of them to Whisnant. 

East Carolina shot 44 percent from the field and went 15-for-35 from deep. However, they missed the last six of their three point attempts. They capitalized on 88 percent of their free throw opportunities. 

"We got good looks and as a coach, I think that's what you want," said East Carolina coach Jeff Lebo said to the Associated Press. "We knew coming in that we would have to shoot a lot of 3's to win this game."

These teams played on January 17, 2015 in the regular season. SMU routed Eastern Carolina, 77-54. It was about as effortless as it could get for the Mustangs who dominated all night.

SMU dominated on the offensive glass, scoring 17 second chance points compared to only two points by East Carolina. They also outscored the Pirates in the paint, 44-to-16. The Mustangs only had one loss in their last eight games, so they had the momentum going into today's matchup. 

"They came out making shots," said SMU guard Ryan Manuel, who had eight points in the victory. "They had nothing to lose and I think we just stuck with it and after the game we came out with the win."

The Mustangs 25-6, (15-3 American) will play the Temple Owls as they defeated the Memphis Tigers 80-75 just a few hours after SMU got their win. 

As for the Pirates (14-19, 6-12 American), they are done for the season and have no shot of making it to the NCAA Tournament. They will not be able to get in the NIT because of their sub-par record.