[rv/rv] SMU (14-3, 4-0) plays at [22/22] Cincinnati (13-2, 3-0) on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The game is a matchup of the two remaining unbeaten teams in American Athletic Conference play. The Mustangs have won 10 straight after an 84-65 win against USF on Saturday.
The Mustangs held the last 10 opponents to 65 points or less. During the win streak, SMU's scoring defense has improved to 59.1 (2nd AAC, 5th NCAA) and the field goal defense to .388 (4th AAC, 19th NCAA).
Four Mustangs average double digits with
Semi Ojeleye leading the team (17.9, 3rd AAC) followed by
Shake Milton (11.9, 19th AAC),
Ben Moore (11.6, 21st AAC) and
Sterling Brown (11.4, 22nd AAC). SMU has had at least four score 10+ in 13 of 17 games. The Mustangs have outrebounded 16 of 17 opponents and have a +13.2 rebound margin (1st AAC, 2nd NCAA) overall, including a +20.0 in AAC play. Five Mustangs average 4.0 or more rebounds with Ojeleye (7.7, 5th AAC), Moore (7.6, 6th AAC) and Brown (6.6, 14th AAC) leading SMU. Milton also leads SMU in assists (4.2, 6th AAC), steals (1.4, 6th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3, 5th AAC). Brown is also among the AAC leaders in assists (3.1, 15th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6, 9th AAC).
WIN STREAK (10): The Mustangs have won 10 straight entering the game at Cincinnati (T-3rd SMU history). In the win streak, SMU has held all 10 opponents to 65 points or less and an average of 54.8 points per game. The opponents are shooting 37.1 percent during the past 10 contests.
W-L 4-3 10-0
Scoring Off. 73.1 72.8
Scoring Def. 65.3 54.8
Scoring Margin 7.9 18.0
FG Pct. .463 .464
FG Pct. Def. .412 .371
3Pt.FG Pct. .358 .418
3Pt.FG Pct. Def. .328 .312
Reb. Off. 40.9 40.7
Reb. Def. 27.7 27.5
Reb. Margin 13.1 13.2
LAST GAME (W, 84-65 vs. USF on Jan. 7): DALLAS (AP) --
Semi Ojeleye scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds,
Jarrey Foster had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and SMU won its 10th straight on Saturday with an 84-65 win over South Florida.
Sterling Brown added a season-high 19 points to go with five rebounds and five assists for the Mustangs (14-3, 4-0 American Athletic), who have won 15 straight at home (11 this season). South Florida (6-8, 0-3) led 11-10 early in the first half, but the Bulls scored just three points in the next eight minutes, allowing SMU to take a 28-14 lead with 6:55 left. The Bulls pulled to 46-41 with 16:10 remaining but the Mustangs responded with a 6-0 run and led by as many as 23 in the second half. Troy Holston led USF with 20 points and six 3-pointers, both career highs. SMU outrebounded South Florida 39-23. The Mustangs have outrebounded all four conference opponents by at least 16.
UP NEXT: SMU plays at Tulane on Sunday at 5 p.m. (CBSSN). The Mustangs return home for a pair of games next week; hosting Connecticut on Thursday, Jan. 19 (ESPN2, 6pm) and Houston on Saturday, Jan. 21 (ESPNU, 5pm).
THE SERIES VS. CINCINNATI (3-6+): SMU and Cincinnati play for the 10th time. They split last season's series, with then-No. 15 SMU winning 59-57 at Moody on Jan. 7, before the Bearcats won 61-54 on March 6. In 2014-15, the Bearcats won both games. Prior to becoming conference foes, the series had been dormant since 1974-75. SMU has lost all five games in Cincinnati, but won the neutral site encounter in 1966, an NCAA Midwest Regional contest in Lubbock, Texas. (+2-6 officially, win in 2013-14 later vacated)
LAST SEASON VS. CINCINNATI (L, 61-54 at Fifth Third Arena on March. 6, 2016): CINCINNATI (AP) -- Troy Caupain scored 14 points despite missing all of his shots from beyond the arc, and Cincinnati overcame poor shooting to beat No. 24 SMU, 61-54. The Bearcats (22-9, 12-6) held on despite shooting 29.5 percent from the field overall, including 1 of 19 from beyond the arc. They made a difference at the free throw line, going 24 of 30. Caupain made only 4 of 19 shots, missing all six from beyond the arc.
Ben Moore had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs (25-5, 13-5). Senior point guard
Nic Moore had 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting. The Bearcats were coming off a 69-56 loss at Houston and knew they needed some wins to make the NCAA Tournament. SMU pulled ahead 11-6 after 8 minutes despite shooting only 4 of 12 from the field. The Bearcats were worse, going 3 of 17 and missing all seven of their shots from beyond the arc. Cincinnati was only 5 of 23 from the field when Caupain led its first run. He had a pull-up jumper and two free throws during an 8-0 spurt that put the Bearcats up 21-16. Cincinnati led 34-27 at the half, with the teams going a combined 3 of 20 from beyond the arc. Neither team could put together a significant run at the start of the second half. Jacob Evans' driving basket gave the Bearcats the first double-digit lead of the game at 46-36.
Nic Moore tried to get the Mustangs going, making a driving layup that started a final run.
Shake Milton's reverse layup cut Cincinnati's lead to 55-52 with 1:54 to go. SMU forward
Markus Kennedy got his fifth foul with 8:46 to go. Kennedy had nine points and four rebounds.
(W, 59-57 at Moody Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2016): DALLAS (AP) -
Jordan Tolbert tipped in
Nic Moore's missed shot for the go-ahead score with 28 seconds left and then had a big block as No. 15 SMU rallied to remain undefeated, beating Cincinnati, 59-57. The short-handed Mustangs (14-0, 3-0), with only seven scholarship players to start the game, overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 3 1/2 minutes. They are off to the best start in school history. Moore finished with 14 points. He had two 3-pointers in the game-ending 11-2 run for SMU, which along with No. 22 South Carolina (14-0) are the only undefeated Division I teams. When Moore missed, Tolbert followed up to put the Mustangs ahead and then blocked Troy Caupain's shot at the other end.
Ben Moore made a free throw with 8 seconds left before Farad Cobb missed a go-ahead 3-pointer on the last shot for Cincinnati (11-5, 1-2). Cobb had 18 points on his six 3-pointers. Gary Clark had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bearcats.
Ben Moore had 15 points to lead SMU, while Tolbert and
Shake Milton each had 11. SMU was down to seven scholarship players. That was down to six when
Sterling Brown was ejected from the game with 7:11 left in the first half after coming on the floor during a scrum that led technical fouls against both teams. The Mustangs played only seven players, four of them going at least 31 minutes. SMU had 11 blocked shots, five by
Ben Moore, and only nine total fouls.
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. 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 180-124 (.592) [23-3 at SMU, including 18-0 at Moody Coliseum]. 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 44 of 58 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
---
74,704 2016-17 (7 sellouts in 11 games)
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.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WINS: SMU leads The American in league wins (32-8) since the start of the 2014-15 season. SMU went 15-3 to win the 2014-15 regular season (also won the tournament) then 13-5 in 2015-16 to finish in second, one game behind Temple.
Through Jan. 8 W L PCT
SMU 32 8 .800
Cincinnati 28 11 .718
Temple 28 12 .700
Tulsa 27 11 .711
Connecticut 22 18 .550
Memphis 20 19 .513
Houston 19 21 .475
UCF 14 26 .350
East Carolina 11 29 .275
Tulane 9 30 .231
USF 7 32 .179
AWARDS - JERRY WEST SHOOTING GUARD OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: Sophomore
Shake Milton is 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 Oct. 18. The annual honor recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men's college basketball. As a freshman, Milton was a unanimous AAC All-Rookie selection after ranking third in the league for 3-point percentage (42.6, 52-122), 13th in field goal percentage (47.7) and 28th in scoring (10.5). He 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 - THE AMERICAN WEEKLY AWARDS: Junior forward
Semi Ojeleye was named the American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 14 (22.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 2 games). Ojeleye was also named to the Weekly Honor Roll five times (Nov. 21, Dec. 12, Dec. 26, Jan. 2, Jan. 9).
Ben Moore was selected to the Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 5 and
Sterling Brown made the Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 2.
AWARDS - PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE (Moore & Milton): 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.
AWARDS - ALLSTATE NABC GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE: Jonathan Wilfong is a nominee for the 2017 Allstate National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Good Works Team, a distinguished award that highlights student-athletes who have shown dedication to community service and altruism in their communities. The senior is a co-founder of Coaching for Literacy (coachingforliteracy.org), an organization that helps fund literacy programs focused on helping elementary and middle school students. 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 partnering with sports teams from across the country for a unique game-day experience, Coaching for Literacy raises money to supports effective local literacy programs and schools focused on educating elementary and middle school students. This is the second straight season SMU has a nominee after
Semi Ojeleye was on the 2015-16 award list.
1000 AND A LOT MOORE: Senior
Ben Moore has 1013 career points (37th at SMU), and became the 39th person in program history to 1,000 points (on a dunk vs. Temple 1/4/17). He also has 637 rebounds (16th at SMU), 104 blocked shots (8th at SMU), 191 assists and 81 steals. He is just the fifth Mustang to have at least 1000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocked shots. He leads that group in assists and is second in steals.
2017-18 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS: SMU will play in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas. The tournament is Nov. 22-24 and includes join Villanova, Tennessee, Arizona, Purdue, Western Kentucky, N.C. State and Northern Iowa.
3 TIMES THE CHARM: SMU has two of the program's best 3-point shooters by percentage in
Sterling Brown and
Shake Milton. They are both also in the top 20 for threes made (Brown T-16th w/ 92; Milton 19th w/ 86).
29 - RPI: The Mustangs are No. 29 in the RPI (through Jan. 9) with a 3-1 record vs. the top 50.
RPI Opponent Result
28 vs. Pittsburgh W, 76-67 on Nov. 17 (2K Classic at Madison Square Garden)
32 at USC L, 78-73 on Nov. 25
38 TCU W, 74-59 on Dec. 7
47 Temple W, 79-65 on Jan. 4
56 Stanford W, 72-49 on Dec. 19
58 at Boise State L, 71-62 on Nov. 30
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.
BALANCED SCORING: SMU had four score in double figures in 13 of 17 games this season with five in double figures three times (Eastern Michigan, McNeese, at East Carolina). 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 WIN STREAKS/START(S) IN PROGRAM HISTORY: SMU has won 10 straight games, which is tied for third in program history. In 2015-16, SMU started 18-0, 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.
WINNING STREAKS - LONGEST IN SMU HISTORY:
Wins Start Date End Date
20 at Wichita State; W, 85-67 (Dec. 22, 1955) vs #1 San Francisco (Final Four), L 86-68 (March 2, 1956)
18 Sam Houston State; W, 85-50 (Nov. 14, 2015) at Temple; L, 89-80 (Jan. 24, 2016)
10 Texas Tech; W, 89-82 (Nov. 22, 1997) at UTEP; L, 66-64 (Jan. 3, 1998)
10 at Arkansas; W, 75-74 (Feb. 2, 1966) #2 Kansas (NCAA Regional); L, 96-90 (March 11, 1966)
10+ CSU Bakersfield; W, 49-43 (Dec. 2, 2016) --------
9 Texas Southern; W, 91-72 (Nov. 23, 1984) at Chaminade; L, 71-70 (Dec. 25, 1984)
9 Eastern Kentucky; W, 66-45 (Dec. 6, 1947) Baylor; L, 43-42 (Jan. 10, 1948)
CLASSROOM RECORDS: SMU's football, men's basketball and women's basketball programs had a record-setting fall semester in the classroom. The football and women's basketball teams set program-best cumulative grade-point-averages while men's basketball reached its highest cumulative GPA since 2004. It was the second-straight outstanding semester for all three programs. Football had a new program high in the spring of 2016. Spring of 2016 also saw women's basketball record its best spring since 2005 and men's basketball post its best mark since 2011. The programs combined for 35 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Honors in 2016. Football had 29 representatives while men's and women's basketball had three apiece.
CRASHING THE GLASS: SMU has a +13.2 rebound margin this season (1st AAC, 2nd NCAA), outrebounding 16 of 17 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 114 of 150 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 +13.2 1st - 2nd 16 of 17 (+10 in 11 games)
CRASHING THE GLASS - BALANCED REBOUNDING: SMU has 5 different players averaging 4.0 rebounds per game or better.
Semi Ojeleye leads at 7.7 (5th AAC) followed by
Ben Moore leads SMU at 7.6 (6th AAC),
Sterling Brown at 6.6 (14th AAC),
Jarrey Foster at 5.2 and
Shake Milton at 4.0.
FG%: SMU is shooting 46.3% this season (4th 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 114 of 150 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 .463 4th - 97th 14 of 17
FG% - SMU CAREER - (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 53.6 John Colborne (382-713), 1985-90
53.6 Ben Moore, 2013-
9 53.5 Glenn Puddy (289-540), 1984-86,87-89
10 53.1
Markus Kennedy (400-754), 2013-16
11 52.1 Cannen Cunningham (314-603), 2011-15
12 51.9 Eric Longino (391-754), 1987-89
13 51.8 Papa Dia (549-1059), 2007-11
14 51.1 Sterling Brown, 2013-
15 50.3 Tim Mason (549-1091), 1989-93
FG% DEFENSE: SMU has held opponents to 38.8% this season (4th 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 82 of 150 opponents at or below 40%.
Season FG% Def. AAC-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 .388 4th - 19th 9 of 17
PAINT IS KEY: SMU has a +8.7 advantage in the paint through 17 games (29.6 to 20.9). 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 122 of 150 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 13 of 17 (29.6 to 20.9)
ROAD WARRIORS: The Mustangs are 18-10 on the road since the start of the 2014-15 season with a 23-12 mark away from Moody Coliseum (5-2 neutral site). SMU is 14-6 in AAC road games in that stretch (7-2 in 2014-15; 5-4 in 2015-16; 2-0 in 2016-17). 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
TOP 25: SMU is receiving votes in both polls after also receiving votes in 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 9 (15, 23, 16, 13, 28, 17, 12, 19, 21),
Jarrey Foster 3 (12, 13, 17),
Sterling Brown (19), Ben Emelogu (11)
Longest This Season:
Semi Ojeleye 8 (12/4-)
8+ rebounds:
Semi Ojeleye 4 (11, 9, 9, 8),
Jarrey Foster (12)
Long:
Semi Ojeleye 3 (12/27-)
Dbl-Dbl:
Jarrey Foster (17 pts, 12 rebs)
Long:
Semi Ojeleye (11/11, 11/25, 12/27),
Ben Moore (11/30, 12/4, 12/31),
Sterling Brown (12/4, 12/14, 12/31),
Jarrey Foster (1/7-)
5+ assists:
Shake Milton 2 (5, 8),
Sterling Brown (5)
Long:
Shake Milton 3 (11/13-11/18)
3+ steals:
Long:
Shake Milton (11/11, 11/25, 12/2),
Ben Emelogu II (11/11)
2+ blocks:
Shake Milton (2)
Long:
Ben Moore 3 (11/30-12/4)
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)
Ben Moore - Dec. 5 (13.3 pts, 12.3 rebs, 2.3 blks, 1.7 asts, 15-27 FG, 2 dbl-dbls, 2-1 week)
Semi Ojeleye - Dec. 12 (23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks in win vs. TCU)
Semi Ojeleye - Dec. 26 (20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists in wins vs. Stanford & Albany)
Semi Ojeleye - Jan. 2 (14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds in wins at Memphis & ECU)
Sterling Brown - Jan. 2 (13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists in wins at Memphis & ECU)
Semi Ojeleye - Jan. 9 (20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists in wins vs. Temple & USF)
- 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)
- Allstate NABC Good Works Team Nominee
Jonathan Wilfong - Nov. 30
STERLING BROWN (6-6, 230, G, Sr.): 2016-17: Averaging 11.4 points (22nd AAC), 6.6 rebounds (14th AAC), 3.1 assists, 1.6 Assist/Turnover Ratio (9th AAC) and 1.2 steals… FG% 42.9, 3FG% 47.2, FT% 71.2... 3 double-doubles…GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Double-digit scoring performances in 13-of-17 games… Scored a season high 19 points, going 7-12 from the field, including a career-high 5 3-pointers made (5-9) against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 14 points, with 8 rebounds and 6 assists at Memphis (Dec. 27)… Tallied a career-high 13 rebounds against Delaware State on Dec. 4… AWARDS: Named to AAC Honor Roll (Jan. 2).
BEN EMELOGU II (6-6, 215, G, Jr.): 2016-17: Averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a season high 11 points against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 6 points (2-of-2 3FG) in 17 minutes against East Carolina… Had a season-high 6 assists against McNeese (Dec. 14)… Recorded a season high 7 rebounds against Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)… 2015-16: Missed season due to injury.
JARREY FOSTER (6-6, 220, G, So.): 2016-17: Averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds… FG% 54.5 (5th AAC), 3FG% 44.1… 1 double-double… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Nine double-digit scoring performances this season, including a career-high 18 against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… Recorded 17 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for his first career double-double against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 13 points with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal against Temple (Jan. 4)… Scored 12 points, with a career high 3 blocks against East Carolina (Dec. 31)… Career high 7 assists against UC Santa Barbara (Nov. 22).
LEO KONTOPOULOS (6-9, 210, F, Fr.): GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Played in 10 games… Saw 1 minute of action against East Carolina… Scored 1 FG in 2 minute of play McNeese (Dec.14)… Played 2 minutes against Delaware State (Dec. 4) and Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13)… 2015-16: Spent the season with the Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C. in Thessaloniki, Greece… Saw action in eight games.
DASHAWN MCDOWELL (6-5, 185, G, Fr.): 2016-17: GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Played in 17 games… Recorded 3 rebounds in 6 minutes against East Carolina… Scored a career-high 7 points (2-5 FG, 3-4 FT) against McNeese (Dec. 14)… Posted 4 points, with a block against Stanford (Dec. 19)… Tallied 4 rebounds twice (Eastern Michigan, Nov. 13; UCSB, Nov. 22)… 2016 SUMMER: Played for USA East Coast on a basketball tour in Italy…The team went 3-1 on the trip.
SHAKE MILTON (6-6, 205, G, So.): 2016-17: Averaging 11.9 points (19th AAC), 4.2 assists (6th AAC) and 1.4 steals (6th AAC)…FG% 40.1, 3FG% 38.2 (10th AAC), FT 81.3 (5th AAC)… 2.3 Assist/Turnover ratio (5th AAC)… GAME HIGHLIGTS: 13 double-digit scoring performances this season (7 of last 8 games), with a season-high 18 against Temple (Jan. 4)… Scored 17 points twice (McNeese, Dec. 14; TCU, Dec. 7)… Had a career high 8 rebounds against East Carolina (Dec.31)… Recorded a career-high 9 assists against Stanford (Dec. 19)… Has tallied 5+ assists in 7 games, with at least 3 in 15-of-17 games this season… AWARDS: Named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list… AAC preseason all-conference second team.
BEN MOORE (6-8, 220, F, Sr.): 2016-17: Averaging 11.6 points (21st AAC), 7.6 rebounds (6th AAC) and 1.0 blocked shots (14th AAC)… FG% 57.3 (3rd AAC), FT% 66.7 … 3 double-doubles…Has 1,013 career points…GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 18 points (including his 1,000th career point), with 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal against Temple (Jan. 4)… Scored 18 points with 11 rebounds at East Carolina (Dec. 31)… Has double-digit points in 12-of-17 games… 5+ rebounds in 15-of-17 games, including 13 of the last 14 (11/18 (Michigan) - 1/7 (USF))… Scored a season-high 19 points at Boise State (Nov. 30)... AWARDS: AAC preseason all-conference first team… Named to AAC Honor Roll (Dec. 5).
SEMI OJELEYE (6-7, 235, F, Jr.): 2016-17: Averaging 17.9 (3rd AAC) and 7.7 rebounds (5th AAC)… FG% 48.3 (15th AAC), 3FG% 44.0 (3rd AAC), FT% 74.8 (12th AAC)… Three double-doubles… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Has scored 10+ points in 16-of-17 games, with 20+ in 6… Set a career-high in points (28 (9-15 FG, 4-6 3FG, 6-9 FT)) against Albany (Dec. 20)… Scored a game high 21 points (7-13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 5-6 FT), with 8 rebounds against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 19, with 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block against Temple (Jan. 4)… Posted 17 points, with 11 rebounds at Memphis (Dec. 27)… Recorded a career-high 14 rebounds against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11)… 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 five times (Nov. 21, Dec. 12, Dec. 26, Jan. 2, Jan. 7).
JAMES PYLE (6-3, 175, G, Fr.-RS): Played in 7 games… Added to the active roster on Dec. 2, 2016… Recorded 1 rebound in 2 minutes against McNeese (Dec. 14)… Made first appearance against Delaware State (Dec. 4)…Played against TCU (Dec. 7), Stanford (Dec. 19) and Albany (Dec. 20).
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.
JONATHAN WILFONG (6-2, 185, G, Jr.): 2016-17: Played in 12 games… Recorded a rebound in 6 minutes of play against East Carolina (Dec. 31)… 1 rebounded against Memphis (Dec. 27)… Made 1 FG and had a steal against UCSB (Nov. 22)… 2015-16: Totaled 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 assists… AWARDS: 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team Nominee
