Ryan Manuel scored 13 points off the bench, and SMU led nearly wire to wire Saturday in a 73-65 victory over Louisiana Tech.
Manuel made just two field goals but was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Aliaksei Patsevich added 11 points, including two 3-pointers, for the Mustangs (8-5), who improved to 5-0 at home this season.
Brandon Gibson scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Bulldogs (8-7). Gibson, who came in averaging just 3.9 points per game, was 9 of 15 from the field.
Raheem Appleby, who had averaged 22 points per game in the Bulldogs' previous four contests, was held to 11.
Louisiana Tech scored the game's first basket, but an 8-0 SMU run gave the Mustangs the lead for good. The Bulldogs got within four, 64-60, on a Gibson 3-pointer with 3:15 to play, but five Manuel free throws after that helped SMU hang on.
