SMU falls to Wisconsin in Fort Myers Tip-Off

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Max Klesmit scored all 12 of his points in the second half and Wisconsin rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat SMU 69-61 on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Beach Division of the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

The Mustangs hit 7 of 9 from beyond the arc in the first half to build a 32-24 advantage at the break, but were just 1 of 7 from distance in the second half.

Tyler Wahl and Klesmit each scored to start the second half and halve the Badgers’ deficit, but SMU pushed its advantage to 10 points, 40-30 with under 14 minutes left on Jalen Smith’s 3-pointer, the Mustangs lone trey of the half. Wisconsin answered wth a 7-0 run. Klesmit scored at the basket, then hit from deep to tie the game at 46. Chucky Hepburn’s three-point play put the Badgers in front 55-53 and AJ Storr’s dunk with 2:21 left gave them the lead for good.

After shooting 1 of 14 from long range in the first half, the Badgers hit 4 of 10 in the second along with 11 of 12 from the line to fuel their comeback.

Wahl finished with 14 points and six rebounds for Wisconsin (4-2). Storr had 11 points, Hepburn added 10 and John Blackwell had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Zhuric Phelps led SMU (4-2) with 19 points. Chuck Harris added 13 points.

Wisconsin plays host to Western Illinois on Monday. SMU plays host to UL Monroe on Sunday.

SMU Postgame Notes – November 22, 2023

Wisconsin 69, SMU 61

Wisconsin (4-2), SMU (4-2)

Suncoast Credit Union Arena – Fort Myers, Fla.

Roster | Schedule | Media Guide

UPCOMING GAMES

ULM – Sunday, Nov. 26 – 2pm CT – David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas

TV: ESPN+

Radio: KAAM 770 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App

Dayton – Wednesday, Nov. 29 – 7pm CT – David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas

TV: ESPN+

Radio: KAAM 770 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App

RECENT IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

In the past 9 seasons, SMU has won 2 titles and played in 3 other finals

• Finalist in 2023-24 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off (defeated West Virginia 70-58 in semifinal, lost 69-61 to Wisconsin in final)
• Finalist in 2022-23 Diamond Head Classic (defeated Iona in quarterfinal, Utah State in semifinal, lost at Hawaii 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)
• Won the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic (defeated Nicholls, Hampton, Kent State in semifinal, Colorado in final)

SMU has a 3-2 record in two in-season tournaments under Head Coach Rob Lanier (2-1 in 2022 Diamond Head Classic, 1-1 in Fort Myers Tip-Off)

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.)

• 4^th straight game with this lineup

Zhuric Phelps 19 points, including 4-6 on 3FGs (15+ in 26 of last 36 games), Chuck Harris 13 points (10+ in 5 of 6 games this season)

SMU hit 8-16 on 3FGs with 4 different Mustangs hitting at least one 3FG

• Zhuric Phelps (4-6 – season high made), Jalen Smith (2-3)

SMU had 3 blocked shots (entered game 28^th in the NCAA at 5.6 per game)

• Keon Ambrose-Hylton, Tyreek Smith, Samuell Williamson

SMU held Wisconsin to 41.9% from the field (entered game 36^th in the NCAA at 36.9% FG% defense)

• Has held every opponent below 42.0%
• Held Wisconsin to 1-12 to start the game over the first 5:30
• SMU started 7-11 on FGs, including 4-5 on 3FGs
•  

SMU had 11 offensive rebounds (entered game 31^st in NCAA at 14.8 per game)

SMU led 32-24 at halftime

• SMU was 7-9 on 3FGs in the first half
• Held Wisconsin to 32.4% (11-34) in the first half
• Zhuric Phelps 14 points in the first half

RUNS

SMU started the game 15-4 over the first 7 minutes (Zhuric Phelps 9 points, 3-3 on 3FGs)

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

B.J. Edwards (#0, G, So.)

• 3 assists with 0 turnovers (entered game 33^rd in NCAA with a 4.4 assist-to-turnover ratio [22 assists / 5 turnovers])

Chuck Harris (#3, G, Sr.)

• 13 points, 2 assists

Zhuric Phelps (#1, Jr., G)

• 19 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

SMU release.