SMU (4-1, 0-0 American) at USC (4-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date / Tip-off	Fri., Nov. 25 / 6 p.m. CT/4 PT
Location	Galen Center / Los Angeles, Calif. -- Map
Tickets	Tickets
TV	Pac-12 Network
Radio	KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App - Search SMU
Game Notes	SMU | USC | American
Live Stats	Gametracker
Facebook	/SMUBasketball | SMU Mustangs
Twitter	@SMUBasketball | @SMUMustangs
Instagram	@SMUBasketball | @SMU.Mustangs

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SMU (4-1) visits USC (4-0) on Friday. This is SMU's first road game of the season. The Mustangs were 9-4 away from home last season, including a 7-4 road record. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, SMU is 10-5 in games away from Moody Coliseum, including the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic championship and a runner-up finish at the 2016 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden.
 
Junior Semi Ojeleye leads SMU in scoring (20.8, 3rd AAC) and rebounding (8.0, 10th). Shake Milton is second on the team in scoring (12.0, 24th AAC) while leading in assists (4.4, 8th AAC), steals (1.4, 12th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1, 5th AAC). Five Mustangs average double digits in scoring with Sterling Brown (11.2), Ben Moore (10.2) and Jarrey Foster (10.2) joining Ojeleye and Milton. SMU has outrebounded all five opponents so far with a plus-15.0 rebound margin. Seven Mustangs average 3.2 or more rebounds with Ojeleye and Brown (6.4, 15th AAC) leading the way.
 
 LAST GAME (W, 84-57 vs. UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 22): DALLAS (AP) -- Semi Ojeleye scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field to help lead SMU to an 84-57 win over UCSB. Sterling Brown scored 14 points and added seven rebounds, while Ben Moore and Shake Milton each had 12 for the Mustangs. SMU shot 55.8 percent from the field while limiting the Gauchos to just 32.8 percent. The Mustangs also won the rebound battle 43-26 and dished out 21 assists to just 12 for UC Santa Barbara. SMU built a 41-26 lead at the half and extended it to 48-28 on a Brown jam with 16:52 left in the game. A Ben Emelogu 3-pointer five minutes later made it 63-34 and UCSB never mounted a serious comeback. Gabe Vincent led the Gauchos with 18 points. Eric Childress added 11.
 
UP NEXT: SMU plays at Boise State on Wednesday before beginning a six-game homestand against CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 2. The home stretch includes Delaware State (Dec. 4), TCU (Dec. 7), McNeese State (Dec. 14), Stanford (Dec. 19) and Albany (Dec. 20). The Mustangs then start American Athletic Conference at Memphis on Dec. 27.
 
THE SERIES VS. USC (1-4): This is the sixth meeting. The Trojans hold a 4-1 advantage, and have claimed the last two meetings. The two squads have not faced off in Los Angeles, with three games at neutral sites and two in Dallas. SMU's lone win, 70-64, came on Dec. 29, 1955 at the SWC Christmas Tournament in Houston.
 
LAST MEETING VS. USC (L, 91-83 at Seton Hall/Meadowlands Tournament on Dec. 28, 1994): USC forward Jaha Wilson scored 21 points and collected 16 rebounds, leading the Trojans to a 91-83 comeback victory over SMU in the first round of the Seton Hall/Meadowlands basketball tournament. Jameil Rich had 21 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in the effort. Troy Matthews co-led the Mustangs with 21 points (6-12 3FG) while also recording 8 assists. USC shot 48.4 percent from the field and 62.5 from behind the 3-point line, compared to SMU's 34.1 and 41.4 percentages, respectively. The Trojans had five with double-digit scoring performances.
 
THE SERIES VS. BOISE STATE (5-4): This is the 10th meeting between SMU and Boise State, the first as non-conference opponents. SMU holds a 5-4 edge over the Broncos, all as Western Athletic Conference opponents. In Boise, Idaho, SMU holds a 2-2 record, with the first game March 2, 2002 (L, 63-80). The two teams squared off in the 2003 WAC Tournament, where SMU won 65-58 in Tulsa, Okla. SMU won the last two meetings, first a 78-69 victory in Dallas on Jan. 29, 2005, before claiming the last meeting, 80-62, on Feb. 25, 2005 in Boise.
 
LAST MEETING VS. BOISE STATE (W, 80-63 at Boise State on Feb. 25, 2005): SMU guard Bryan Hopkins scored 28 points (8-16 FG, 3-9 3FG, 9-10 FT) and forced three steals, leading SMU to an 80-63 victory over Boise State. Forward Devon Pearson tallied 21 points (9-16 FG, 3-4 3FG) and collected 13 rebounds, while Patrick Simpson tallied 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 FT), with eight rebounds and two blocks. Justin Isham had nine points. SMU shot 55.6 percent from the field and 41.2 from behind the 3-point line, while holding the Broncos to 41.3 percent and 25.0 percent, respectively.

HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his first season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 34th season as a collegiate coach, and his 12th as a head coach. In 2015-16, the Mustangs finished 25-5, finishing the season ranked No. 24 after reaching a high of No. 8. SMU was the last unbeaten team in the country, starting 18-0, winning the Las Vegas Classic title during the season-opening streak. In 2014-15, the Mustangs claimed the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships en route to the NCAA Tournament. SMU was the top seed in the 2014 NIT, reaching the title game in the program's most recent trip to Madison Square Garden. This is his 10th season as the leader of a Division I program, including five as head coach at Illinois State (2007-12) and four at North Texas (1993-97). As a head coach, he is 170-122 (.582) [13-1 at SMU]. That includes a 104-64 mark at ISU where his teams recorded four top-three finishes in the Missouri Valley, reached the conference tournament final three times and earned four NIT bids. As an assistant or head coach, his teams are 628-375 (.626) with six regular season conference championships, four league tournament titles, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and eight NIT bids.

- 6 Conference Titles (Colorado State - WAC '89, '90; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06, '07; SMU - AAC '15)
- 4 Conference Tournament Titles (Illinois - Big Ten '03; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06; SMU - AAC '15)
- 9 NCAAs (CSU '89, '90; Oklahoma State '93; Illinois '03; Kansas '04 RF, '05, '06, '07 RF; SMU '15)
- 8 NITs (CSU '88, Vanderbilt '00, '02; Illinois State '08, '09, '10, '12; SMU '14 Final)

ATTENDANCE: SMU has surpassed 100,000 in attendance the past three seasons. In 2014-15, SMU set a season attendance record of 124,986 total and 6,944 average. The New Moody single-game attendance record of 7,395 was set against Connecticut (Feb. 14, 2015). SMU has sold out 40 of 51 games in Moody Coliseum since the renovated facility opened Jan. 4, 2014.

SMU Season Home Attendance Total        Total Season
124,986                                                        2014-15 AAC Champions (15 sellouts in 18 games)
117,420                                                        2015-16 (13 sellouts in 17 games)
107,412                                                        2013-14 (9 sellouts in 19 games - 13 games in Moody Coliseum)
101,296                                                        1984-85
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20,556                                                          2016-17 (3 sellouts in 3 games)

ATTENDANCE 2016-17 SEASON-TICKET RECORD: On the heels of a three straight record-breaking seasons for SMU Men's Basketball attendance, another record has been set on the Hilltop with more than 5,100 season tickets sold for the games at Moody Coliseum.
 
 AWARDS - JERRY WEST SHOOTING GUARD OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: Sophomore guard Shake Milton was one of 20 candidates named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Oct. 18. The annual honor recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men's college basketball. As a freshman, Milton was a unanimous American Athletic Conference All-Rookie selection after ranking third in the league for three-point percentage (42.6, 52-122), 13th in field goal percentage (47.7) and 28th in scoring (10.5). The Owasso, Oklahoma, native also averaged 2.7 assists (13th AAC) and 3.0 rebounds with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio as he helped the Mustangs to a 25-5 season. This summer, he was a shooting guard at the 2016 Nike Hoops Summit in Los Angeles and went to Croatia with a Global Sports Academy U.S. Team.
 
AWARDS - AAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior forward Semi Ojeleye was named the American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 14. Ojeleye averaged 22.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists as the Mustangs (2-0) won both games. Ojeleye had career-highs of 26 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3FG, 7-8 FT) and 14 rebounds in a 72-44 win over Gardner-Webb.
 
AWARDS - AAC WEEKLY HONOR ROLL: Semi Ojeleye was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 21. In two games, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks. He scored 24 points (9-17 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-6 FT), with five rebounds and two blocks in the win against Pittsburgh on Nov. 17; earning 2K Claccis All-Tournament honors.
 
AWARDS - PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: Senior Ben Moore was named to the preseason All-AAC first team, while sophomore Shake Milton was named to the second team. The Mustangs, who finished second last season after winning the conference in 2014-15, were picked behind Cincinnati and Connecticut, respectively.
 
3 TIMES THE CHARM: Shake Milton made 52 three pointers as a freshman, which was two off the SMU freshman record. He was second on the team in 2015-16 to Nic Moore (76).
SMU Season 3FGM By A Freshman
                1              54           Bryan Hopkins, 2002-03; Stephen Woods, 1996-97; Jabari Hearn, 1994-95
                4              52           Shake Milton, 2015-16
                5              42           Chad Elsey, 1997-98

60-50-85: As a junior in 2015-16, Sterling Brown shot 60.2% from the field (109-181, 2nd AAC), 53.6% from 3-point range (30-56, 1st AAC, SMU Record) and 85.7% on free throws (54-63). He is believed to be the first in NCAA Division I to accomplish the 60-50-80 marks for a season. (The 3-point line was instituted in 1986-87.) This season, he is at 50.0% FGs (18-36), 53.3% 3FGs (8-15) and 66.7% FTs (12-18).
 
BALANCED SCORING: SMU had four score in double figures in 4 of 5 games this season with five in double figures versus Eastern Michigan. In 2015-16, SMU had 4 players with 10+ points in 23 of 30 games, including 6 in double figures in the win against Hampton and 5 in double figures six times.
 
BEST START(S) IN PROGRAM HISTORY: SMU started 18-0 in 2015-16, which was the best in program history, surpassing the 10-0 start by the 1997-98 team (Tim Jankovich directed the first nine games of the 18-game streak). The 18-game winning streak was the second-longest in program history (20 during 1955-56). The 7-0 start in American Athletic Conference play was the best league start since going 12-0 en route to the 1955-56 SWC title. SMU's 20-2 mark tied for the best through 22 games. The Mustangs got to 26-2 in 1955-56 before finishing 26-4.
 
CRASHING THE GLASS: SMU has a +15.0 rebound margin this season, outrebounding all 5 opponents. SMU has led The American in rebound margin for three straight seasons. In 2015-16, SMU outrebounded 24 of 30 opponents and had a +10.2 margin (1st AAC, 4th NCAA). The Mustangs were at least +10 in 16 games. In the 4-game stretch from 12/5 to 12/17, SMU was at least +25 in each game (+113 total, +28.3 average). SMU was +25 vs. New Hampshire, +25 vs. Michigan, +37 vs. Nicholls, +26 vs. Hampton. SMU has outrebounded 103 of 138 since the start of 2012-13.

Season Reb. Margin       Conf.-NCAA         Outrebound Opp.
2012-13 +2.6                   5th - 102nd           21 of 32 (+10 in 4 games)
2013-14 +4.8                   1st - 36th             25 of 37 (+10 in 11 games) 
2014-15 +6.7                   1st - 17th             28 of 34 (+10 in 10 games)
2015-16 +10.2                 1st - 4th               24 of 30 (+10 in 16 games)
2016-17 +15.0                 2nd - 12th            5 of 5 (+10 in 4 games)
 
CRASHING THE GLASS - TEAM REBOUNDING: SMU has 7 different players averaging more than 3. rebounds per game with 4 of them at 4.0 or better. Semi Ojeleye leads at 8.0 (10th AAC), Sterling Brown 6.4 (15th AAC). In the win against UCSB (43-26 rebound advantage), SMU had eight different players with 4 or more rebounds (Ben Moore 7, Sterling Brown 7, Shake Milton 6, Semi Ojeleye 4, Jarrey Foster 4, Dashawn McDowell 4, Harry Froling 4, Ben Emelogu II 4)
 
FG%: SMU is shooting 47.5% this season (5th AAC). SMU has led The American in field goal percentage for three straight seasons. In 2015-16, SMU led The American at 49.7% from the field (4th NCAA), shooting better than 25 of 30 opponents. The Mustangs have outshot 104 of 138 opponents since the start of 2012-13. 
Season FG%       Conf.-NCAA       Higher % Than Opp.
2012-13 .449        7th - 89th             18 of 32
2013-14 .483        1st - 18th             28 of 37
2014-15 .475        1st - 26th             29 of 34
2015-16 .497        1st - 4th                25 of 30
2016-17 .475        5th  - 97th            4 of 5

FG% - SMU CAREER - 52.0%+ (min. 250 made)
1              62.6        Terry Williams (383-612), 1983-87
2              55.9        Jon Koncak (713-1276), 1981-85
3              55.8        Larry Davis (731-1311), 1981-85
4              55.5        Ira Terrell (757-1364), 1972-76
                55.5        Bamba Fall (324-584), 2005-09
6              55.3        Eric Castro (432-781), 2001-05
7              53.7        Sterling Brown, 2013-
8              53.6        John Colborne (382-713), 1985-90
9              53.5        Glenn Puddy (289-540), 1984-86,87-89
10           53.1        Markus Kennedy (400-754), 2013-16
11           52.3        Ben Moore, 2013-
12           52.1        Cannen Cunningham (314-603), 2011-15
 
FG% DEFENSE: SMU has held opponents to 38.7% this season (5th AAC). In 2015-16, SMU held opponents to 40.0% from the floor (3rd AAC, 28th NCAA). In the past four seasons, SMU has held 76 of 138 opponents at or below 40%.
Season FG% Def.             Conference-NCAA          Opponents Under 40%
2012-13 .395                       1st - 39th                     16 of 32
2013-14 .385                       1st - 7th                        24 of 37
2014-15 .381                       1st - 5th                        20 of 34
2015-16 .400                       3rd - 28th                     13 of 30
2016-17 .387                       5th - 78th                     3 of 5
 
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE MUSTANGS: In the past few season, several Mustangs have played in international events or gone with teams on international tours.
2016:
Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Croatia): Jarrey Foster, Shake Milton, Semi Ojeleye
East Coast USA (Italy): Harry Froling, Dashawn McDowell

2015:
World University Games with Team USA (South Korea): Nic Moore (gold medalist)
Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Moore, Sterling Brown, Semi Ojeleye and Ben Emelogu II 
East Coast USA (France, Italy): Jordan Tolbert

2014:
Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Moore, Sterling Brown
 
MOODY/HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: SMU has lost just four games (57 contests) at home since the start of the 2013-14. SMU has played 49 of those games in the renovated Moody Coliseum. In those 57 home games, SMU is averaging 76.3 points per game with a scoring margin of +16.7. SMU is shooting 50.7% at home while holding opponents to 37.5%.
Season Home Losses (Games)               Pts.        FG%     Opp. Pts.     Opp. FG%
2013-14 1 (19 games)                              75.7        .515        59.4            .366
2014-15 2 (18 games)                              72.7        .495        58.7            .380 
2015-16 1 (17 games)                              79.6        .508        61.5            .390
2016-17 0 (3 games)                                 82.3        .513        55.0            .325
 
NLI - JANKOVICH ANNOUNCES FOUR SIGNEES: Ethan Chargois, William Douglas, Elijah Landrum and Everett Ray have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Mustangs beginning with the 2017-18 season. Chargois (F, 6-7, 235) and Landrum (G, 6-0, 180) are from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Landrum is ranked as high as No. 2 in Oklahoma after averaging 27.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals as a junior at Central High School. Chargois is ranked as high as No. 4 in Oklahoma after averaging 15 points and eight rebounds in 2015-16 for Union High School. Douglas (G, 6-4, 175) is from Memphis where he is ranked as high as No. 2 in Tennessee after averaging 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals last season at Christian Brothers High School. Ray (F, 6-7, 220) is from Addison, Texas, where he paced CHANT Home School with averages of 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in 2015-16.
 
NON-CONFERENCE UNDER JANKOVICH: SMU is 13-1 in non-conference games under Jankovich. SMU was 12-0 in non-conference play last season, including winning the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic. The Mustangs have lost just six non-conference regular season contests since the start of the 2013-14 season, only one of those losses was at home (then No. 25 Arkansas 78-72 on 11/24/14).
 
PAINT IS KEY: SMU has a +11.2 advantage in the paint through 5 games (32.0 to 20.8). In 2015-16, SMU outscored 24 of 30 opponents (22-2) in the paint last season, averaging 37.2 to 23.7.  The Ponies have outscored 113 of 138 opponents in the paint since the start of 2012-13.
Season             Outscored Opponents In The Paint (SMU to Opp.)
2012-13            23 of 32 (28.6 to 19.6)
2013-14            31 of 37 (33.4 to 21.8)
2014-15            31 of 34 (31.5 to 19.2)
2015-16            24 of 30 (37.2 to 23.7)
2016-17            4 of 5 (32.0 to 20.8)
 
ROAD WARRIORS: The Mustangs are 16-8 on the road since the start of the 2014-15 season with a 21-10 mark away from Moody Coliseum (5-2 neutral site). SMU was 7-4 on the road in 2015-16 after going 9-4 on the road in 2014-15. The nine road wins rank second in school history (10 in 1955-56). The Mustangs won seven straight road games, which was the longest streak since a program-record eight in 1955-56. The 2014-15 streak was all in AAC play, the most consecutive league road victories since seven straight from 1983-84 to 1984-85 (record 10 from 1954-55 to 1956-57). At 7-2 in The American, SMU finished with its most conference road wins in a season (previous record was 6 in 1955-56, 1966-67, 1983-84.)

SMU - Best Road Start:
5-0 in 1934-35 & 2015-16
4-0 in 1927-28

SMU - Most Road Wins In A Season:
10 in 1955-56
9 in 2014-15
8 in 1961-62, 1983-84
7 in 1966-67, 1987-88, 1992-93, 1999-00, 2015-16

SMU - Most Consecutive Road Wins:
8 in 1955-56
7 in 2014-15
6 in 1966-67 & 2014-15 (last 1) to 2015-16 (first 5)

SMU - Most Conference Road Wins In A Season:
7 in 2014-15 (7-2)
6 in 1955-56 (6-0), 1966-67 (6-1), 1983-84 (6-2)

SMU - Most Consecutive Conference Road Wins:
10 in a span from 1954-55 to 1956-57 (1954-55: won last 2; 1955-56: won all 6; 1956-57: won first 2)
7 in a span from 1983-84 to 1984-85 (1983-84: won last 4; 1984-85: won first 3), 2014-15
 
TROPHY CASE: Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs have added four items to the trophy case, most recently the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic (12/16-12/23). In 2014-15, SMU won American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. In 2013-14, SMU was the runner-up in the NIT.
 
TOP 25: SMU was receiving votes in the polls the first two weeks of the season. In 2015-16, SMU finished 24th in the AP Poll, its 17th straight poll in the top 25. That is the third-longest streak at SMU and the second-highest total in a season for the Mustangs. It was the third straight season SMU has been ranked in the top 25. In 2014-15, SMU was in the top 25 for nine weeks including the final seven regular season polls. SMU finished No. 18 in the AP and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2013-14. That was the first time SMU had been ranked since the 1984-85 season, when the Mustangs were as high as No. 2.
 
STREAKS:
10+points: Semi Ojeleye 5 (26, 18, 24, 13, 22), Ben Moore 4 (11, 12, 10, 12), Sterling Brown 2 (10, 14), Shake MIlton (12)
Longest This Season:
8+ rebounds:
Long: Semi Ojeleye 2 (11/11-11/13)
Dbl-Dbl:
Long: Semi Ojeleye 11/11
5+ assists: Jarrey Foster (7)
Long: Shake Milton (11/13-11/18)
3+ steals:
Long: Shake Milton 11/11, Ben Emelogu II 11/11
2+ blocks:
Long: Harry Froling 11/11, Jarrey Foster 11/17, Semi Ojeleye 11/17
 
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
- Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year
                Shake Milton (1 of 20 on Watch List - Oct. 18)
- Preseason All-American Athletic Conference
                Ben Moore (First Team - Oct. 24)
                Shake Milton (Second Team - Oct. 24)
- American Athletic Conference Player of the Week
                Semi Ojeleye - Nov. 14 (22.0 pts, 11.0 rebs, 13-23 FG, 4-8 3FG, 14-17 FT in 2-0 week)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
                Semi Ojeleye - Nov. 21 (18.5 pts, 7.0 rebs, 1.0 ast, 1.0 blk, 14-33 FG, 4-10 3FG, 1-1 week)
- 2K Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project All-Tournament Team
                Semi Ojeleye - Nov. 18 (20.3 pts, 9.0 rebs, 48.2% FG, 44.4% 8-18 3FG, 19-25 FT, SMU 3-1)

STERLING BROWN (6-6, 230, G, Sr.): 2016-17: Averaging 11.2 points, 6.4 rebounds (15th AAC), 3.0 assists and 1 steal…FG% 50.0, 3FG% 53.3 (8th AAC)... GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 14 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 3FG, 3-4 FT), with 7 rebounds and two assists against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Scored 10 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-1 FT) with 5 rebounds and 1 steal against Michigan (Nov. 18)…Scored 9 points (4-9 FG, 1-4 3FG) with 6 rebounds against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)…Scored 12 points (2-5 FG, 2-2 3FG, 6-10 FT) with 7 rebounds and 1 steal against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)…Scored 11 points (4-10 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-3 FT), with 7 rebounds and 8 assists against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11)…
 
BEN EMELOGU II (6-6, 215, G, Jr.): 2016-17: Averaging 3.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 5 points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3FG), with 4 rebounds and 2 assists against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Had 7 rebounds and 2 steals against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… Scored 6 points (2-7 FG, 1-5 3FG, 1-3 FT) with 6 rebounds and 4 assists against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… 2015-16: Missed season due to injury… 2015 SUMMER: Played for the Global Sports Academy U.S. team during its 2015 Goodwill Tour (August 6-14)… The team went 5-0 on the tour with games in Belgium, Germany, England and the Netherlands… 2014-15: Averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds…20 steals.
 
SHAKE MILTON (6-6, 205, G, So.): 2016-17: Averaging 12.0 points (24th AAC), 4.4 assists (8th AAC) and 1.4 steals (12th AAC)…FG% 43.8, FT 91.7 (3rd AAC)… GAME HIGHLIGTS: Posted 12 points (3-7 FG, 1-4 3FG, 5-6 FT), with 6 rebounds and 4 assists against UCSB (Nov. 22)…Scored 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3FG, 2-2 FT), 5 assists and 2 steals against Pittsburgh (Nov .17)…Recorded 5 rebounds and 5 assists against Michigan (Nov. 18)… Scored 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-4 FT), with 5 assists and 3 assists against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)…Scored 13 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3FG), with 3 steals and 3 assists against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11)… AWARDS: Named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list… AAC preseason all-conference second team nominee.
 
BEN MOORE (6-8, 220, F, Sr.): 2016-17: Averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists… FG% 44.7, FT% 65.4 … GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 12 points (4-10 FG, 4-8 FT), with 7 rebounds and 2 assists against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Scored 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-3 FT), with 7 rebounds and 1 steals against Michigan (Nov. 18)… Posted 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-4 FT), with two assists against Pittsburgh (Nov .17)…Scored 11 points (3-5 FG, 5-8 FT), with 6 rebounds and 3 assists against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)... AWARDS: AAC preseason all-conference first team nominee.
 
SEMI OJELEYE (6-7, 235, F, Jr.): 2016-17: Averaging 20.6 points (68th NCAA, 3rd AAC) and 8.0 rebounds (10th AAC)… FG% 52.2, 3FG% 47.8 (13th AAC), FT% 73.3 (14th AAC)… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 22 (8-11 FG, 3-5 3FG, 3-5 FT), with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Recorded 24 points (9-17 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-6 FT), with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… Scored 26 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3FG, 7-8 FT), with14 rebounds against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11)…Scored 18 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3FG, 7-9 FT), with 8 rebounds and one steal against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)... AWARDS: Named the AAC Player of the Week on Nov. 14… Was named to the 2K Classic All-Tournament Team… Named to AAC Honor Roll (Nov. 21).
 
JARREY FOSTER (6-6, 220, G, So.): 2016-17: Averaging 10.2 points and 3.4 rebounds… FG% 66.7 (4th AAC), 3FG% 66.7… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a career-high 7 assists, with six points and 4 rebounds against UCSB (Nov. 22)…Scored 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-2 3FG), with 4 rebounds against Michigan (Nov .18)… Had 5 rebounds and 2 blocks against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… Scored 18 points (8-9 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-1 FT) with 3 rebounds and 2 assists against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… Scored 11 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) with 2 steals against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11).
 
JONATHAN WILFONG (6-2, 185, G, Jr.): 2016-17: Went 1-for-1 from the field and had a steal against UCSB (Nov. 22)… 2015-16: Totaled 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 assists.
 
JIMMY WHITT (6-3, 175, G, So.): 2016-17: Will sit out due to NCAA transfer rules…2015-16 AT ARKANSAS: Averaged 6.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.6 steals…FG% 38.7, 3FG% 37.5…Free Throw % 79.2.
 
DASHAWN MCDOWELL (6-5, 185, G, Fr.): 2016-17: GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Went 2-for-4 in free throws and collected 4 rebounds against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Collected 3 rebounds against Michigan (Nov. 18)… Scored 5 points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG) with 1 rebound against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… Scored 2 points (1-2 FG), with 4 rebounds and three assists against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)…2016 SUMMER: Played for USA East Coast on a basketball tour in Italy…The team went 3-1 on the trip.
 
TOM WILSON (6-5, 180, G, Fr.): 2016-17: GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Went 1-for-3 from the field, with a 3FG against UCSB (Nov. 22)…Collected 1 rebound against Michigan (Nov. 18)... Scored 6 points (2-6 3FG), with 3 assists and a rebound against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… 2015-16: Played with the Melbourne United in Australia's National Basketball League… In 2014 averaged 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds at the U17 World Championship… Had 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the gold medal game (99-92 Loss to USA).
 
HARRY FROLING (6-11, 260, F, Fr.): 2016-17: GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 4 points (2-4 FG), with 4 rebounds and 2 assists against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Scored 2 points (1-3 FG) against Michigan (Nov. 18)… Scored 4 points (2-4 FG), with 3 rebounds against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… Scored 6 points (2-4 FG, 1-1 3FG), with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)…Recorded five rebounds and 2 assists against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11)… 2016 SUMMER: Played for USA East Coast on a basketball tour in Italy… The team went 3-1 on the trip… 2015-16: Played with the Townsville Crocodiles in the National Basketball League… played for the World Team as one of the top 12 international players at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit.
 
LEO KONTOPOULOS (6-9, 210, F, Fr.): GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Went 1-for-1 from the field in 1 minute of play against UCSB (Nov. 22)… Played 2 minutes against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… Played 1 minute against Michigan (Nov. 18)… 2015-16: Spent the season with the Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C. in Thessaloniki, Greece… Saw action in eight games.
 
SMU RISES IN US NEWS RANKINGS: SMU rose to its highest ranking among the nation's universities in the 2017 edition of U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges. Among 220 institutions classified as national universities, SMU ranks 56, up from 61 a year ago. The new ranking again places SMU in the first tier of institutions in the guide's "best national universities" category. In Texas, only Rice University ranks higher. SMU and the University of Texas-Austin were tied.  Among private national universities, SMU ranks 39. SMU's increase was one of the five largest among the top 100 universities. Since 2008, SMU's 11-point increase is one of the four largest among schools in the top 60. For the rankings, U.S. News considers measures of academic quality, such as peer assessment scores and ratings by high school counselors, faculty resources, student selectivity, graduation rate performance, financial resources and alumni giving. SMU ranks 24 among all national universities in alumni giving at 25 percent. In other ranking categories, SMU ranks 32 as one of the best national universities for veterans.
 
SMU HITS $1B CAMPAIGN GOAL: The Second Century Campaign, the largest and most successful fundraising initiative in SMU's history, raised $1.15 billion for the enhancement of the University's student quality, faculty and academic excellence and the campus experience. The campaign's official completion date was Dec. 31, 2015. The Second Century Campaign was publicly launched in 2008 with a goal of $750 million. Rapid progress toward that goal and opportunities for further advancements led SMU leaders in 2013 to increase the goal to $1 billion and extend its timeline to 2015. Ending in 2002, SMU's previous major gifts campaign, "A Time to Lead: The Campaign for SMU", raised $542 million. Combining both campaigns, in the last two decades SMU has raised a total of $1.5 billion for 753 new scholarships, 111 new academic positions, 146 academic programs and 32 capital projects. SMU joins 35 private universities that have raised $1 billion or more through major gifts campaigns.
 
COACHING FOR LITERACY (CoachingForLiteracy.org): Jonathan Wilfong and Andrew Renshaw, two then-high school seniors from Memphis, Tennessee, founded Coaching for Literacy in 2012. The premise is that a participant offers a monetary donation and, in exchange, gets to be the "Assistant Coach" during a sporting event. Proceeds raised from the event go towards funding effective literacy programs focused on helping elementary and middle school students. Coaching for Literacy partners with collegiate and professional sports teams for a unique game-day experience. --- The mission of Coaching for Literacy is to increase awareness about the number of people in America who are functionally or totally illiterate and the social problems associated with illiteracy. By leveraging the unique power of collegiate and professional sports, Coaching for Literacy raises money to supports effective local literacy programs and schools focused on educating elementary and middle school students. SMU hosted two CFL events in each of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, and will host an event during the 2016-17 campaign (vs. Stanford Dec. 19).