SMU Basketball takes on Texas A&M Commerce on Sunday

SMU (5-3) vs Texas A&M – Commerce (4-5)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 2:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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The Mustangs finish a three-game homestand with Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday. 

SMU is 5-3 overall, and 4-2 at Moody Coliseum, after a 65-63 loss to Dayton on Wednesday. Zhuric Phelps led the Mustangs with 15 points and a season-high four steals. Keon Ambrose-Hylton added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Chuck Harris, Ja’Heim Hudson and Tyreek Smith each scored eight while Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Mustangs outrebounded the Flyers 35-31 and had a 23-11 advantage in points off turnovers.

Phelps was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Monday 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.

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by Zhuric Phelps (15.8, 8th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.1). Phelps is also averaging 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals (6th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.8 assists per game (9th AAC) and AAC-leading 3.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (30th NCAA – 30 assists / 8 turnovers). Samuell Williamson is the leading SMU rebounder at 5.8. SMU is averaging 9.0 steals (2nd AAC), 4.8 blocked shots (5th AAC) and 14.1 offensive rebounds (2nd AAC, 40th NCAA).

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is holding opponents to 38.2% (3rd AAC, 28th NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held 7 of 8 opponents under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 28.1% (4th AAC, 49th NCAA) so far this season. The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 4.8 (5th AAC, 61st NCAA) from 3.4 and are also +3.0 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 8 games… averaging 8.3 points (10+ 3 times) and shooting 69.0%…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 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists (9th AAC) and 1.8 steals (10th AAC) with a 3.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC, 30th 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.) | 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 8 games… averaging 13.1 points and 1.3 steals while shooting 40.5% on threes (15-37) and 16-17 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 3.6 points and 3.4 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 4.4 points and shooting 47.1% on 3FGs (8-17)… 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 15.8 points (8th AAC), 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals (6th AAC, 54th 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 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists while hitting 39.1% 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 7.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks (6th AAC)…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 7.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.9 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 3.3 points and shooting 6-20 on threes… 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.

SMU release.