How to watch: SMU at Memphis on ESPN

SMU (10-4, 1-0 AAC) at [15/15] Memphis (12-2, 1-0 AAC)
FedEXForum – Memphis, Tennessee
Sunday, January 7, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN

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SMU visits No. 15 Memphis on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs have won four straight games enter the matchup 10-4 overall after a 66-54 AAC-opening win over Charlotte on Tuesday.

In the win over Charlotte, SMU trailed 10-2 in the first four minutes before holding the 49ers to 34 points over the next 30 minutes. The Mustangs outrebounded the 49ers 45-31 and held them to 34.0% shooting. Zhuric Phelps had a team-high 13 points with six rebounds and two steals. Samuell Williamson followed with 12 points and six boards. Tyreek Smith had a season-high 11 rebounds with nine points and two blocked shots.
MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (14.7, 13th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.2). Phelps is also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals (6th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.8 assists per game (8th AAC) and a 2.65 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 6.6 (15th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 6.2.

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 36.2% (1st AAC, 2nd NCAA) from the field, holding 13 of 14 opponents under 42.0%. The three-point defense is 26.1% (1st AAC, 6th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 61.6 points (2nd AAC, 12th NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.3 steals (4th AAC), 5.0 blocked shots per game (2nd AAC, 34th NCAA) and have a +6.1 in rebound margin (2nd AAC).

SMU Season FG% Defense
1.    .345 (498-1443)    1953-54
—-    .362    2023-24
2.    .364 (656-1804)    1957-58
3.    .367 (766-2087)    1955-56
4.    .373 (609-1631)    1958-59
5.    .380 (609-1602)    1961-62

SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—-    .261    2023-24
1.    .298 (210-705)    2021-22
2.    .305 (120-394)    1987-88
3.    .308 (203-660)    2011-12
4.    .314 (157-500)    1992-93
5.    .321 (248-773)    2013-14
    .321 (282-878)    2016-17

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 14 games… averaging 8.6 points (10+ 5 times) and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 74.0%…Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, shot 56.3% from the field (9-16) while averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. 2022-23: Played all 32 games… averaged 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots… Hit 65.7% on FGs. 

Denver Anglin (6-1, 185, G, So.) | 2023-24: Redshirting this season following a stress reaction in his left foot… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and an assist per outing. 2022-23 at Georgetown: Played in 18 games.

B.J. Edwards (6-3, 185, G, So.) | 2023-24: Averaging 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists (8th AAC) and 1.3 steals with a 2.65 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC)…Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he averaged a team-best 6.0 assists with 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. 2022-23 at Tennessee: Played 14 games for a team that made the NCAA Sweet 16.

Xavier Foster (7-0, 225, F, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played 4 games… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, had a team-high four blocked shots in the three games while adding 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per matchup. 2022-23: Played 10 games… had 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Chuck Harris (6-4, 190, G, Sr.): 2023-24: Started all 14 games… averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 42.6% on threes (29-68) and 81.3% on FTs (26-32)… Scored 1,000th career point in the win vs Lamar 11/9… AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D18) | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 11.0 points and 2.0 assists while hitting 5-of-6 on free throws. 2022-23 at Butler: played in 29 of 32 games (missed 3 due to injury) with 24 starts…Averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals while hitting 34.0% on 3FGs…Team-high 85.3% on FTs (7th Big East)… Led team in scoring six times while scoring in double figures 16 times…Three 20-point games… Eight games with 5+ rebounds and four games with 3+ steals.

Ja’Heim Hudson (6-7, 220, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and a steal… Recorded his tour-best 12 boards in the final contest at Barcelona. 2022-23 at Georgia State: Averaged team-best 6.9 rebounds (12th Sun Belt) with 10.1 points… Led the team with 22 blocked shots and was third with 27 steals … Had three double-doubles … Scored in double figures 13 times and grabbed double-figure rebounds in five games.

Emory Lanier (6-4, 190, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 4.6 points and shooting 44.1% on 3FGs (15-34)… has 15 3FGs this season (5 in 2022-23, 3 total in 2 seasons at Davidson 2020-22)… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he totaled eight points, five assists and two steals. 2022-23: Played in 27 games… totaled 46 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists and 8 steals… AWARDS: NABC Honors Court… AAC All-Academic Team.

Mo Njie (6-11, 250, C, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played 6 games… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 3.0 rebounds and a blocked shot… Had a tour-best seven rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 25 games…had 42 points, 39 rebounds and 9 blocked shots.

Zhuric Phelps (6-5, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 14.7 points (13th AAC), 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals (6th AAC) with 8 total blocks… Recorded 100th career steal in the win vs Western Illinois 11/8…AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N27), Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, Preseason All-AAC Second Team. | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals in just 18.0 minutes. | 2023 NBA DRAFT: On April 12, Zhuric Phelps announced he would enter the NBA?Draft and maintain his collegiate eligibility. On May 24, he announced he would withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to SMU for his junior season. | 2022-23: Started all 30 games he played… Averaged 17.5 points (6th AAC), 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, (11th AAC) 2.3 steals (1st AAC, 16th NCAA)… Scored 19+ in 17 games… Had 5+ assists 8 times, including 7 of last 13 games… Had 17 games with multiple steals… AWARDS: AAC Player of the Week (D26)…AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N28, F13, F20)… Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team (D22-25)… SMU SEASON RECORDS: 524 points (23rd), 2.3 steals (T-4th), 68 steals (4th).

Jalen Smith (6-2, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while hitting 38.6% on threes (17-44)…Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 assists without committing a turnover… Hit 64.7% on field goals (11-17) and 2-5 on threes. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 23 starts…averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio… Scored 10+ five times.

Tyreek Smith (6-8, 225, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks (5th AAC) while shooting 61.5% on FGs and 71.1% on FTs (27-38)…Has 2 double-doubles… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged a team-best 8.0 rebounds with 6.7 points and a block per game… Had 9 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the opening win at Madrid. 2022-23 at Oklahoma State: Played all 36 games with 9 starts as team made the NIT Quarterfinals… Averaged 5.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots while shooting 59.7% from the field… Had seven games scoring 10+ and four games with 10+ rebounds (all in the last 5 games)… Had 2 double-doubles… Had multiple blocks 6 times.

Trey Utter (6-0, 160, G, So.) | 2023-24: Played in 4 games… Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, scoring two points in his first appearance in the victory in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 2 games…Made his SMU debut in the AAC-opening win vs Tulsa 1/1… AWARDS: AAC All-Academic Team.

Samuell Williamson (6-8, 205, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 8.7 points, 6.6 rebounds (15th AAC) and 1.8 assists…AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D26)… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged team-best 16.0 points with 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists while shooting 62.5% (20-32)… Game-high 26 points (12-17 FGs) with 7 rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 30 starts… Averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds (6th AAC), 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals (11th AAC), 0.8 blocked shots…. Had 6 double-doubles (6th AAC)… Scored 10+ in 16 games… Had 7+ rebounds 17 times… 15 games with multiple steals… AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (J2), AAC All-Academic Team.

Ricardo Wright (6-3, 185, G, Sr.) | Averaging 4.1 points and shooting 38.9% on threes (14-36)… Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. 2022-23: Played in 27 games… averaged 3.1 points and 0.8 rebounds with 9 assists and 6 steals… Shot b34.6% on 3FGs… Had 4 games with 10+ points.

Jackson Young (6-2, 185, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played in 4 games… Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, hitting a pair of threes in finale in Barcelona and totaling two assists. 2022-23: Played in 5 games.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: This week was the 10th anniversary of the opening of the renovated Moody Coliseum. The remodeled facility made its basketball debut on Jan. 4, 2014 with a matchup against then-No. 17/15 UCONN, giving the Huskies a 74-65 loss. Since the renovation, SMU was been ranked or receiving votes in eight of those seasons getting as high as No. 8, won two AAC championships and made five postseasons (2 NCAA, 3 NIT).