SMU Basketball heads to Arizona State Wednesday night

SMU (6-3) at Arizona State (5-2)
Desert Financial Arena – Tempe, Arizona
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 – 9 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. MT
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The Mustangs play three of their last four non-conference games on the road beginning at Arizona State on Wednesday. SMU will visit Florida State on Dec. 16 and Murray State on Dec. 22. The home game is Dec. 19 against Houston Christian. The Mustangs have played two games away from home, defeating West Virginia 70-58 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off semifinal and falling to Wisconsin 69-61 in the championship.

SMU is 6-3 overall after a 90-47 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday. Four Mustangs scored in double figures, led by Keon Ambrose-Hylton’s career-high 19 points on 9-of-9 shooting. Samuell Williamson added 13 points, Zhuric Phelps 11 and Chuck Harris scored 10 points with a career-high tying seven assists. B.J. Edwards also had seven points and seven assists as SMU totaled 26 assists on 36 made field goals. The Mustangs shot 69.2% for the game, the fourth-highest in program history and were plus-20 in rebounds (36-16). The 26 assists were the most since 26 vs A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 30, 2020.

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (15.2, 11th AAC) and Chuck Harris (12.8). Phelps is also averaging 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals (7th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 4.1 assists per game (6th AAC) and a 3.08 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC, 42nd NCAA – 37 assists / 12 turnovers). Tyreek Smith is the leading rebounder at 5.6, followed by. Samuell Williamson at 5.3. SMU is averaging 8.7 steals (3rd AAC), 4.6 blocked shots (5th AAC) and 13.6 offensive rebounds (3rd AAC, 43rd NCAA).

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is holding opponents to 37.6% (1st AAC, 19th NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held 8 of 9 opponents under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 27.8% (1st AAC, 34th NCAA) so far this season. The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 4.6 (5th AAC, 70th NCAA) from 3.4 and are also +4.9 in rebound margin (4th AAC) 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.

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 9 games… averaging 9.4 points (10+ 4 times) and shooting 74.5%…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 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists (6th AAC) and 1.7 steals (13th AAC) with a 3.08 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC, 42nd 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. 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 9 games… averaging 12.8 points and 1.1 steals while shooting 41.0% on threes (16-39) and 19-21 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 4.0 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 4.8 points and shooting 50.0% on 3FGs (10-20)… has 10  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 3 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 15.2 points (11th AAC), 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals (7th AAC, 75th NCAA) 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 4.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists while hitting 36.0% on threes (9-25)…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 7.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks (7th AAC) while shooting 59.5% on FGs and 80.8% on FTs (21-26)…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 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds 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.) | Averaging 3.2 points and shooting 7-23 on threes (30.4%)… 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 39.7 rebounds with a +4.9 margin. The 13.6 offensive rebounds per game ranks third in the AAC and is 43rd nationally. Three Mustangs are averaging at least 4.2 rebounds with Tyreek Smith at 5.6, Samuell Williamson at 5.3, Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 4.8 and Zhuric Phelps at 4.2. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.6 offensive rebounds (8th AAC), followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 2.1 (15th AAC).

KE-ON TARGET: The Mustangs shot 69.2% from the field in the 90-47 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3. That ranks fourth in program history. Keon Ambrose-Hylton scored a career-high 19 points, going 9-9 on FGs. He was the first Mustang to be perfect from the floor on at least 9 attempts since Semi Ojeleye was 9-9 vs Tulsa 3/2/17.

SMU release.