SMU's dominant 2nd half leads to win over West Virginia

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Zhuric Phelps scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and SMU pulled away midway through the second half to beat West Virginia 70-58 on Monday night in the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

SMU (4-1) took the lead for good on a Chuck Harris step-back jumper with 10:54 remaining that sparked a 22-8 run. Eight players scored for SMU during the stretch that included Ricardo Wright’s two 3-pointers and Keon Ambrose-Hylton’s six points as the Mustangs stretched their advantage to 68-55 with 2:50 to play.

Wright and Harris scored 12 points apiece and Ambrose-Hylton had 10 for SMU, which shot 60% (18 of 30) from the floor and grabbed 22 of its 33 rebounds in the second half.

Jesse Edwards scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting to lead West Virginia (2-2). Quinn Slazinski made three 3s and finished with 13 points. The Mountaineers shot 26% (7 of 27) from the floor in the second half and 37% (20 of 54) overall.

SMU faces Wisconsin Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in the championship game. The game will be televised on FS1.

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SMU Postgame Notes – November 20, 2023

• Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Semifinal
• SMU 70, West Virginia 58
• SMU (4-1), West Virginia (2-2)
• Suncoast Credit Union Arena – Fort Myers, Fla.

UPCOMING GAMES

• Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off – Suncoast Credit Union Arena – Fort Myers, Fla.
• Wisconsin (3-2) – Wednesday, Nov. 22 – 6pm ET/5pm CT or 8:30pm ET/7:30pm CT
  • TV: FS1
  • Radio: KAAM 770 AM | SMU Mobile App

RECENT IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

• Advances to the championship of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off
• In the previous 8 seasons, SMU has won 2 titles and played in 2 other finals.
  • Won the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic (defeated Nicholls, Hampton, Kent State in semifinal, Colorado in final)
  • Won the 2019-20 Southwestern Showdown (wins at UNLV, vs Jackson State, vs Hartford, vs Abilene Christian)
  • Finalist in 2016-17 2K Classic (defeated Gardner-Webb, Eastern Michigan, Pittsburgh in semifinal, lost to Michigan in final)
  • Finalist in 2022-23 Diamond Head Classic (defeated Iona in quarterfinal, Utah State in semifinal, lost at Hawaii in final)

NOTES

• Starters: #0 B.J. Edwards (G, So.), #1 Zhuric Phelps (G, Jr.), #3 Chuck Harris (G, Sr.), #10 Samuell Williamson (F, Sr.), #22 Keon Ambrose-Hylton (F, Sr.)
  • 3^rd straight game with this lineup
• SMU outscored West Virginia 45-22 in the second half
  • Outrebounded WVU 22-14 in 2^nd half
  • Shot 60.0% (18-30) and held WVU to 25.9% (7-27) in 2^nd half
  • SMU was 5-11 on 3FGs in 2^nd half (Ricardo Wright 4-5)
  • Outscored WVU 20-6 in the paint in the 2^nd half
• SMU had 4 score in double figures
  • Keon Ambrose-Hylton (10 – 2^nd double-figure game this season), Chuck Harris (12), Zhuric Phelps (17 – 15+ in 25 of last 35 games), Ricardo Wright (12 – tied career high 3FGs made with 4)
  • 2^nd time with 4 double-figure scorers this season
• Zhuric Phelps first career double-double (17 points, career-high 12 rebounds)
• SMU held West Virginia to 37.0% from the field
  • Has held every opponent below 42.0%, including four straight under 40.0%
• SMU had 9 steals (entered game 19^th in NCAA at 11.0 per game)
  • Tyreek Smith (2), Samuell Williamson (2)
• SMU had 18 assists on 29 made FGs (second-highest assist total of the season)
  • Chuck Harris team-high 5
• SMU hit 8-23 on 3FGs
  • Chuck Harris (2-4 – 7-11 in past 2 games), Emory Lanier 1-1 (7-11 in past 3 games), Ricardo Wright 4-5 (tied career high 3s made)

RUNS

• 15-3 run to take a 42-41 lead at 14:20 2^nd half
  • from down 38-27 at 18:06 2^nd half
• 10-0 to take a 54-47 lead at 7:12 2^nd half

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Chuck Harris (#3, G, Sr.)
  • 12 points, team-high 5 assists
  • 2-4 on 3FGs
• Zhuric Phelps (#1, Jr., G)
  • 17 points, 3 assists, 12 rebounds (career high), 1 steals
  • First career double-double
• Tyreek Smith (#12, F, Sr.)
  • 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 points, 2 rebounds
• Samuell Williamson (#10, F, Sr.)
  • 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
• Ricardo Wright (#5, G, Sr.)
  • 12 points, 4-5 on 3FGs (all in 2^nd half)

Editor’s Note: SMU press release.