How to watch: SMU vs. Dayton

SMU (5-2) vs Dayton (4-2)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, November 29, 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 Dayton on Wednesday at 7 p.m. SMU improved to 5-2 overall, and 4-1 at Moody Coliseum, with the 70-57 win over ULM on Sunday. Zhuric Phelps had a game-high 21 points, all in the second half, as SMU finished the game on a 39-16 run.

Phelps was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll after averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals as the Mustangs went 2-1 last week. The junior was named to the Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team where the Mustangs knocked off West Virginia in the semifinal and fell to Wisconsin in the championship. It was his fifth career AAC Weekly Honor.

This is the fourth straight season SMU and Dayton have matched up. The Mustangs are 4-2 in the series and 2-1 in the previous three games after the 74-62 loss in Dayton last season. SMU won the previous two contests 77-69 at Moody Coliseum on Dec. 8, 2021 and 66-64 win at Dayton during the 2020-21 season.

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by Zhuric Phelps (15.9, 9th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.9). Phelps is also averaging 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals (8th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 4.0 assists per game (8th AAC) and AAC-leading 4.67 assist-to-turnover ratio (18th NCAA – 28 assists / 6 turnovers). Samuell Williamson is the leading SMU rebounder at 6.4 (17th AAC). SMU is averaging 8.9 steals (2nd AAC), 4.7 blocked shots (5th AAC) and 13.7 offensive rebounds (2nd AAC, 39th NCAA).

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is holding opponents to 37.2% (2nd AAC, 21st NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held every opponent under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 25.2% (1st AAC, 16th NCAA) so far this season. The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 4.7 (5th AAC, 66th NCAA) from 3.4 and are also +2.9 in rebound margin this season after a -2.6 last season.

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.

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 7 games… averaging 7.7 points and shooting 68.6%…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.) | 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 4.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists (8th AAC) and 1.7 steals (11th AAC) with a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 18th 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… nearly had a triple-double in the win in Valencia (10 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists). 2022-23 at Tennessee: Played 14 games for a team that made the NCAA Sweet 16.

Xavier Foster (7-0, 225, F, Jr.) | 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 7 games… averaging 13.9 points and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.2% on threes (14-31) and 15-16 on FTs… 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 3.0 points and 3.3 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 5.0 points and shooting 50.0% on 3FGs (8-16)… has 8  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.) | 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 15.9 points (9th AAC), 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals(8th AAC) with 4 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 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists while hitting 39.1% on threes (9-23)…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 7.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks…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.) | 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 8.0 points, 6.4 rebounds (17th AAC) and 2.0 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.) | Shooting 31.6% on threes (6-19)… 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.) | 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 4,724 from 3,916 last season.

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.9 rebounds with a +2.9 margin. The 13.7 offensive rebounds per game is second in the AAC and is 39th nationally. Three Mustangs are averaging at least 5.0 rebounds with Samuell Williamson at 6.4 (17th AAC), Tyreek Smith at 5.1 and Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 5.0. Keon Ambrose-Hylton is grabbing 2.7 offensive rebounds (5th AAC), followed by Tyreek Smith at 2.4 (9th AAC).

THE SCHEDULE: The non-conference schedule is highlighted by home games against Dayton and then-[13/15] Texas A&M (L, 79-66), road match-ups with Arizona State and [rv/-] 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 [13/17] 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.

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 8.9 steals through 7 games (2nd AAC, 59th NCAA). SMU recorded 17 in the win over Western Illinois on Nov. 8. Ten different Mustangs have a steal this season, led by Zhuric Phelps (2.0 – 8th AAC), B.J. Edwards (1.7 – 11th AAC) and Chuck Harris (1.3).

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 109 career steals, which is tied for 23rd at SMU. He is averaging 2.0 this season (8th AAC, 91st NCAA). He had 68 steals in 2022-23, averaging 2.3 per game (1st AAC, 16th NCAA). That was fifth in a season at SMU. Phelps had a career-high 7 steals at Wichita State on Feb. 12, which tied for third in a game at SMU and was the most since Nic Moore had 7 vs Texas Southern 11/26/2014. Phelps also had 6 at Tulsa on Jan. 18 as well as 5 against Cincinnati on Jan. 14 and five at USF on Feb. 25.

LAST GAME (W, 70-57 vs ULM on Nov. 26): DALLAS (AP) – Zhuric Phelps had 21 points in SMU’s 70-57 win against UL Monroe on Sunday. Phelps shot 6 for 14 and 8 of 10 from the free throw line for the Mustangs (5-2). Chuck Harris added 15 points while shooting 5 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free throw line, and he also had five rebounds. Samuell Williamson shot 4 for 9 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 6 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points. Tyreese Watson finished with 14 points for the Warhawks (2-3). Savion Gallion added eight points, six rebounds and two steals for UL Monroe. In addition, Jalen Bolden had eight points. NOTES: SMU in 2nd half shot 56.5% (13-23) while holding ULM to 31.3% (10-32), outrebounded ULM 21-14. Zhuric Phelps had 21 points, all in the 2nd half (most for SMU in a 2nd half since 24 by Kendric Davis vs Washington State 3/20/2022).

UP NEXT: The Mustangs host Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday at 2 p.m. SMU follows with road tests at Arizona State on Dec. 6 and Florida State on Dec. 16. The non-conference concludes with a home game against Houston Christian on Dec. 19 and a road trip to Murray State on Dec. 22. AAC play begins with an ESPN2-televised home contest against Charlotte on Jan. 2.

THE SERIES VS DAYTON (4-2): This is the fourth straight season the teams have matched up. The Mustangs are 4-2 in the series after the 74-62 loss in Dayton last season. SMU won the previous two contests 77-69 at Moody Coliseum on Dec. 8, 2021 and 66-64 win at Dayton during the 2020-21 season. SMU won a neutral-site matchup, 67-59, in the first meeting in Lexington, Kentucky on Dec. 22, 1956.

Editor’s note: SMU press release.