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It took a decisive shot from SMU senior guard Boopie Miller at the buzzer to secure a close victory over ACC foe Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
The Hokies appeared to have the victory in hand in the final seconds, but Miller’s half-court jumper flipped the script. After getting the ball on a full-court inside pass, he raced past a Virginia Tech defender and rose to shoot.
Miller, who entered Wednesday’s game averaging 20.8 points and 7.9 assists per game this season, capped his 24-point night with a 77-76 victory in front of a raucous crowd.
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SMU Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) drives to the basket against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Moody Coliseum on January 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images)
SMU coach Andy Enfield talked about the team’s final game strategy. “Let’s give the ball to Boopie and we rolled with it,” he said after the game.
Miller said he was confident the ball was going to go into the hoop immediately after leaving his hand. “I missed too many free throws,” he said. “So I knew it was going to go in.”
Miller’s teammate Samet Yigotoglu also expressed confidence in where the buzzer-beating shot would land. “Um… yeah,” he said, laughing.
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Enfield also revealed that Miller recently dealt with the flu, which led to noticeable weight loss.
“His body was amazing,” Enfield said. “Kurtis Shulz, our strength coach, put 10 pounds of muscle on him in the offseason, you saw how strong he was. All that muscle is gone right now. … For him to be able to play 35 minutes is an honor for him. It just tells you who he is as a player, who he is as a person. He wanted to be out there.”
The SMU Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) and teammates after a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Moody Coliseum on January 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images)
SMU picked up just its second win against an ACC opponent on Wednesday. The Mustangs also improved their overall record to 13-4. SMU entered the game with Virginia Tech down two games.
SMU Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) reacts after making the game-winning shot from half court against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Moody Coliseum on January 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images)
Next, SMU hosts Virginia on Saturday.
