How to watch: SMU Basketball at Florida State

SMU (6-4) at Florida State (4-4)
Tucker Civic Center – Tallahassee, Florida 
Saturday, December  16, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: ACCN

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Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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The Mustangs visit Florida State on Saturday to begin the final week of non-conference play. SMU hosts Houston Christian on Tuesday before playing at Murray State on Dec. 22.

SMU is 6-4 after a 76-74 loss at Arizona State on Dec. 6. Zhuric Phelps led SMU with 24 points and nine rebounds while Chuck Harris added 17 points and six boards. The Mustangs had a 42-22 advantage on points in the paint and shot 45.3% from the field while holding ASU to 36.5% overall. SMU was plus-10 in rebounding (44-34). 

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (16.1, 7th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.2). Phelps is also averaging 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals (7th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 4.1 assists per game (7th AAC) and a 2.93 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC, 47th NCAA – 41 assists / 14 turnovers). Tyreek Smith and Samuell Williamson are the leading in rebounding at 5.7. SMU is averaging 8.4 steals (4th AAC), 4.3 blocked shots (5th AAC) and 13.4 offensive rebounds (3rd AAC).

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is holding opponents to 37.5% (1st AAC, 15th NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held 9 of 10 opponents under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 28.0% (1st AAC, 35th NCAA) so far this season. The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 4.3 (5th AAC) from 3.4 and are also +5.4 in rebound margin (2nd AAC) this season after a -2.6 last season.

SMU Season FG% Defense
1.    .345 (498-1443)    1953-54
2.    .364 (656-1804)    1957-58
3.    .367 (766-2087)    1955-56
4.    .373 (609-1631)    1958-59
—-    .375    2023-24
5.    .380 (609-1602)    1961-62
6.    .381 (691-1815)    2014-15
7.    .385 (762-1977)    2013-14
8    .386 (745-1928)    2016-17
9.    .387 (576-1488)    1959-60
10.    .389 (661-1698)    1954-55

SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—-    .280    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
7.    .322 (197-611)    2006-07
8.    .326 (268-823)    2014-15
9.    .330 (187-567)    1997-98
10.    .331 (224-676)    2015-16

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 10 games… averaging 8.9 points (10+ 4 times) and shooting 75.5%…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 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists (7th AAC) and 1.5 steals (20th AAC) with a 2.93 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC, 47th NCAA)…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 2 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 10 games… averaging 13.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 41.9% on threes (18-43) and 84.6% on FTs (22-26)… Scored 1,000th career point in the win vs Lamar 11/9 | 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 3.8 points and 3.6 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 4.7 points and shooting 50.0% on 3FGs (11-22)… has 11  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 4 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 16.1 points (7th AAC), 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals (7th AAC) with 5 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 4.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists while hitting 34.5% on threes (10-29)…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 7.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks (7th AAC) while shooting 57.4% on FGs and 82.1% on FTs (23-28)…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 2 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 7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists…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 2.9 points and shooting 7-23 on threes (30.4%)… 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 2 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.

ROCKET MORTGAGE FORT MYERS TIP-OFF: SMU defeated West Virginia 70-58 in the semifinal before falling 69-61 to Wisconsin in the championship game. Zhuric Phelps was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals. In the semifinal, SMU outscored West Virginia 45-22 in the second half en route to the win. In the final against Wisconsin, the Mustangs led by as many as 11 and the game was tied at 57-57 with 2:48 left.

THE SECOND HALF OF THE STORY: The Mustangs rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit (and by as many as 12) for a 70-58 win against West Virginia on Nov. 20, and then rebounded from a 30-23 halftime deficit (and by as many as 11) in the home win versus ULM on Nov. 26.

SOLD OUT: The SMU game versus [13/15] Texas A&M on Nov. 14 was played in front of a sellout crow of 6,852 at Moody Coliseum. It was the first sellout since Feb. 24, 2018 against [13/12] Wichita State. The SMU home attendance this season is up to 4,743 from 3,916 last season.

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.1 rebounds with a +5.4 margin. The 13.4 offensive rebounds per game ranks 3rd in the AAC and is 41st nationally. Four Mustangs are averaging at least 4.4 rebounds with Tyreek Smith at 5.7, Samuell Williamson at 5.7, Zhuric Phelps at 4.7 Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 4.4. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.6 offensive rebounds (8th AAC).

KE-ON TARGET: The Mustangs shot 69.2% from the field in the 90-47 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3. That ranks fourth in program history. Keon Ambrose-Hylton scored a career-high 19 points, going 9-9 on FGs. He was the first Mustang to be perfect from the floor on at least 9 attempts since Semi Ojeleye was 9-9 vs Tulsa 3/2/17.
SMU Highest Field Goal Percentage In A Game
1.    72.3 (34-47) vs Lamar, 11-21-2010
2.    69.8 (30-43) vs Southern Miss, 1-22-2011
3.    69.4 (34-49) vs Savannah State, 12-19-2005
4.    69.2 (36-52) vs Texas A&M-Commerce 12-3-2023
5.    67.7 (42-62) vs Texas Tech, 1-5-1983

THE SCHEDULE: The non-conference schedule is highlighted by home games against Dayton (L, 65-63) and then-[13/15] Texas A&M (L, 79-66), road match-ups with Arizona State (L, 76-74) and Florida State plus the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off with West Virginia (W, 70-58 – semifinal) and Wisconsin (L, 69-61 – championship). SMU will play five AAC opponents twice: ECU, [rv/rv] Memphis, North Texas, Tulane and UAB. The Mustangs will play home games only against Charlotte, Temple, Tulsa and UTSA, and play road games only versus [15/14] Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Florida and Wichita State. The American Men’s Basketball Championship is March 13-17 (Wednesday-Sunday) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

SO CLOSE: In the past two seasons, SMU has played 16 games decided by six points or fewer, going 5-11 in those games. Two of these losses are two-point games this season, 65-63 to Dayton on Nov. 29 and 76-74 at Arizona State on Dec. 6. The Mustangs were 5-9 in those games in 2022-23.