How to watch: SMU vs. Tulane

SMU (13-7, 4-3 AAC) vs Tulane (12-8, 3-5 AAC)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Thursday, February  1, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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The Mustangs host Tulane on Thursday, beginning a stretch that has four of the next six games at Moody Coliseum. The home games include UAB (Sunday), North Texas (Feb. 11) and Memphis (Feb. 18). The road games are at Rice (Feb. 7) and the second contest against Tulane (Feb. 15). 

The Mustangs are 9-2 at home this season, including 3-0 in American Athletic Conference games. SMU is 4-3 in the AAC, with all four wins by double figures and the three losses by a combined 10 points.

ELITE DEFENSE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 37.8% (1st AAC, 5th NCAA) from the field, holding 16 of 20 opponents under 42.0%. The three-point defense is 26.9% (1st AAC, 3rd NCAA). Opponents are averaging 63.4 points (2nd AAC, 13th NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (3rd AAC), 5.0 blocked shots per game (2nd AAC, 27th NCAA) and have a +4.8 in rebound margin (2nd AAC).

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (14.6, 12th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.2). Phelps is also averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals (4th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.6 assists per game (10th AAC) with a 2.80 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC) followed by Harris at 3.5 assists (11th AAC) and a 1.78 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th AAC). Harris is shooting 43.4% on threes (2nd AAC), including 14-26 in the past 5 games. Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 7.2 (7th AAC). Tyreek Smith is averaging 6.0 rebounds (17th AAC) and 1.5 blocks (7th AAC). Keon Ambrose-Hylton is averaging 1.0 blocks (13th AAC).

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
—-    .378    2023-24
5.    .380 (609-1602)    1961-62

SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—-    .269    2023-24
1.    .298 (210-705)    2021-22
2.    .305 (120-394)    1987-88
3.    .308 (203-660)    2011-12

Scoring margin
1.    14.3 (74.3-60.0)    2016-17
2.    13.9 (77.3-63.4)    2015-16
3.    13.4 (77.6-64.2)    1956-57
—-    12.2    2023-24
4.    11.0 (78.8-67.7)    1955-56
5.    10.4 (82.3-71.8)    1987-88

AAC UNITY WEEK – Together We Stand is Jan. 27 to Feb. 4: The American Athletic Conference is committed to racial equality and continuous development of an environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusion, advocacy, accountability, and education for student-athletes, coaches, conference staff, administrators, and our fans. As a component of our commitment to immediate and ongoing action, The American has established conference-wide “Unity Weeks” where student-athletes will wear special warm-up shirts, signifying their commitment to these principles. SMU’s games during Unity Week are at Wichita State on Jan. 28 and at home versus Tulane on Feb. 1.

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 20 games… averaging 8.0 points (10+ 5 times), 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots (13th AAC) while shooting 66.7% (3rd AAC)…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 4.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists (11th AAC) and 1.2 steals with a 2.80 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd 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 20 games… averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists (11th AAC) and 1.0 steals while shooting 43.4% on threes (2nd AAC) and 82.9% on FTs… Has a 1.78 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th AAC)…Has 1 double-double (18 points, 10 assists) vs Tulsa 1/20… 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 3.6 points and 3.1 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 4.1 points and shooting 45.2% on 3FGs (19-42)… has 19 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 8 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 14.6 points (12th AAC), 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals (4th AAC) with 10 total blocks and hitting 77.4% on FTs (16th AAC, 72-93)… 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 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists while hitting 36.2% on threes (25-69)…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, 6.0 rebounds (17th AAC), 0.9 steals and 1.5 blocks (7th AAC) while shooting 59.6% on FGs and 72.2% on FTs (39-54)…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 5 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 9.0 points, 7.2 rebounds (7th AAC) and 1.4 assists… 3 double-doubles (10th AAC)… 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 5.0 points and shooting 38.6% on threes (22-57)… 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 5 games… SCHOLARSHIP: During a team meeting on Jan. 6, Head Coach Rob Lanier announced that Jackson Young was awarded a scholarship… 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.

LAST GAME (L, 77-72 at Wichita State on Jan. 28): WICHITA, Kan. — — Harlond Beverly led Wichita State with 14 points and Ronnie DeGray III secured the victory with a layup with 34 seconds remaining as the Shockers knocked off SMU 77-72 on Sunday. Beverly had five rebounds for the Shockers (9-11, 1-6 American Athletic Conference). Colby Rogers scored 12 points and added five rebounds. DeGray had 11 points and finished 5 of 7 from the field. The Shockers stopped an eight-game slide with the victory. Chuck Harris led the way for the Mustangs (13-7, 4-3) with 15 points and four assists. SMU also got 12 points, five assists and three steals from Zhuric Phelps. Jalen Smith also had 11 points. Dalen Ridgnal scored eight points in the first half and Wichita State went into the break trailing 41-37. DeGray scored 11 points in the second half for Wichita State, including his game-winning shot in the final minute.

UP NEXT: The Mustangs host UAB on Sunday, the first of three straight Sunday home games. with midweek road contests. SMU is at Rice on Feb. 7 before hosting North Texas on Feb. 11. The Mustangs then have a trip to Tulane on Feb. 15 followed by a home matchup with [rv/rv] Memphis on Feb. 18.

THE SERIES VS TULANE (26-17): SMU leads the series 26-17 and is 11-4 in meetings as AAC opponents. The Mustangs are 18-3 at home with a 6-1 record in AAC match-ups. SMU is 5-3 in New Orleans in AAC matchups. The first meeting between the programs came on Dec. 18, 1959, an 86-61 victory for SMU.

SMU press release.