Thursday night’s matchup between No. 18 SMU and Hampton was the ninth contest of the season for the Mustangs, meaning that it was their final game without head coach Larry Brown. As part of the sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the fall Brown was suspended for the team’s first nine games of the season, meaning that he could have no contact with his players or coaching staff while serving the suspension.
SMU beat the Pirates 105-72, scoring 62 second-half points, and they received a surprise in the locker room following the game. Brown showed up to meet with his players and coaches, with some of those in attendance reacting excitedly to their coach’s return. Above is a short video of the encounter courtesy of SMU Athletics.
SMU won’t play its next game until Tuesday night when they host Kent State, with their American Athletic Conference opener at fellow contender Tulsa scheduled for December 29.