Southern Methodist 63, Monmouth 51: Nic Moore had a season-best 23 points to go with five assists and four steals to lead the host Mustangs over the Hawks.

Cannen Cunningham added 10 points off the bench for SMU (4-3), which had a 33-28 rebounding edge. Moore was 9-of-15 from the field, including making three of the Mustangs’ five 3-point baskets.

Deon Jones had 13 points and eight rebounds for Monmouth (2-4), which lost its third straight game. Brice Kofane added eight points and six rebounds.

Moore scored 16 of SMU’s first 18 points as the Mustangs led by five midway through the first half. The Hawks were within one after a 3-pointer by Jones with 8:04 left in the half before SMU closed with a 12-2 surge for a 32-21 halftime lead.

The Mustangs expanded their lead to 19 points on Cunningham’s basket with 11:39 to play but Monmouth used an 8-0 run to pull with 49-38 with 8:06 to play. A dunk by Yanick Moreira gave SMU a 15-point lead with 2:30 left as the Mustangs finished off the victory.

GAME NOTEBOOK: SMU has won 22 of its last 24 home games. … Monmouth committed 16 turnovers and was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line. … Moore has 11 steals in the past two games.