DALLAS (AP) - Nic Moore made a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left to lift SMU past California 67-65 on Wednesday night and into the NIT semifinals.
Moore’s shot provided one more dose of Moody Magic, sending Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown and the Mustangs (26-9) to Madison Square Garden.
SMU regained the lead for the first time in more than 8 minutes when Nick Russell, one of two Mustangs seniors, made a reverse layup with 36 seconds left.
With the sellout crowd on its feet - jumping up and down while screaming their loudest - Justin Cobbs made a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to put the Golden Bears (21-14) ahead.
Cobbs had one more chance, but his game-ending shot ricocheted off the rim as he fell to the ground.
SMU will play Clemson Tuesday in New York.
FLORIDA STATE 78, LOUISIANA TECH 75
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Aaron Thomas scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half and Okaro White had 14 first-half points as Florida State defeated Louisiana Tech.
Louisiana Tech’s Raheem Appleby missed a pair of 3-point attempts in the final 7 seconds that could have tied the game.
Thomas has scored 20 or more points in all three of FSU’s NIT wins.
White finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
FSU (22-13) will play Minnesota in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Seminoles have advanced to the NIT semis for the first time since 1997.
Kenneth Smith had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Cordarius Johnson added 11 points for Louisiana Tech (29-8).
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