How to watch: SMU Basketball takes on Houston Christian
SMU (7-4) vs Houston Christian (2-7)
Champions For Literacy Game
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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The Mustangs host Houston Christian in the last non-conference home game. SMU finishes the pre-league slate at Murray State on Friday.
SMU is 7-4 after a 68-57 win at Florida State on Saturday. The Mustangs outrebounded FSU 43-33 and held the Seminoles to 31.1% shooting (have held 10 of 11 opponents under 42%). FSU had just four assists (fewest by an opponent since 4 by Texas A&M 11/30/13). Chuck Harris was named to Monday’s AAC Weekly Honor Roll after had a game-high 24 points for SMU, hitting 9-of-15 shots and 5-of-10 from three. He also had six rebounds and four assists in the road win. Tyreek Smith had 10 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Zhuric Phelps added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
CHAMPIONS FOR LITERACY GAME (championsforlit.org): This is the 10th straight season SMU has supported Champions For Literacy (formerly Coaching For Literacy), designating the home game against Houston Christian on Dec. 19 as the CFL game at Moody Coliseum for 2023-24. Jonathan Wilfong (SMU ’17) and Andrew Renshaw, two then-high school seniors from Memphis, Tennessee, founded CFL in 2012. In partnership with Readers 2 Leaders (readers2leaders.org), proceeds raised from the event go towards funding of effective literacy programs focused on elementary and middle school students. — The mission of Coaching for Literacy is to increase awareness about the number of people in America who are functionally or totally illiterate and the social problems associated with illiteracy. By leveraging the unique power of collegiate and professional sports, Champions for Literacy raises money to supports effective local literacy programs and schools focused on educating elementary and middle school students.
MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (15.5, 9th AAC) and Chuck Harris (14.2). Phelps is also averaging 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals (8th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.8 assists per game (9th AAC) and a 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio (6th AAC – 42 assists / 17 turnovers). Tyreek Smith is leading in rebounding at 6.1 followed by Samuell Williamson at 5.9. SMU is averaging 8.0 steals (6th AAC), 4.2 blocked shots (5th AAC) and 13.6 offensive rebounds (1st AAC / 30th NCAA).
DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is holding opponents to 36.9% (1st AAC, 5th NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held 10 of 11 opponents under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 27.1% (1st AAC, 15th NCAA) so far this season. Opponents are averaging 62.8 points (2nd AAC, 23 NCAA). The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 4.2 (5th AAC) from 3.4 and are also +5.8 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
—- .369 2023-24
4. .373 (609-1631) 1958-59
5. .380 (609-1602) 1961-62
SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—- .271 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 11 games… averaging 8.6 points (10+ 4 times) and shooting 75.4%…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 4.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists (9th AAC) and 1.5 steals (21st AAC) with a 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio (6th 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 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 11 games… averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 43.4% on threes (23-53) and 82.1% on FTs (23-28)… 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 3.5 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 4.3 points and shooting 45.8% on 3FGs (11-24)… 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 15.5 points (9th AAC), 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals (8th 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 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists while hitting 36.4% on threes (12-33)…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 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks (5th AAC) while shooting 59.6% on FGs and 75.8% on FTs (25-33)…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 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, 5.9 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 2.6 points… 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.
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 40.4 rebounds with a +5.8 margin. The 13.6offensive rebounds per game ranks 1st in the AAC and is 30th nationally. Four Mustangs are averaging at least 4.4 rebounds with Tyreek Smith at 6.1, Samuell Williamson at 5.9, Zhuric Phelps at 4.7 Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 4.4. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.6 offensive rebounds (7th AAC).
SMU press release.
