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Mustangs Host East Carolina Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

SMU Has Won 14 Of Last 15 Games; Won 32 Of Last 33 Home Games

[rv/rv] SMU (18-4, 8-1 American) vs East Carolina (10-12, 2-7 American)
Date / Tip-off Wed., Feb. 1 - 8:30 p.m. CT
Location Moody Coliseum -- Dallas, Texas -- Map
Tickets Tickets
TV ESPNews / WatchESPN -- Channel Finder/Broadcast Info
Radio KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App
Game Notes SMU | East Carolina | American
Live Stats Sidearm
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[rv/rv] SMU (18-4, 8-1) hosts East Carolina (10-12, 2-7) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The Mustangs have won 14 of the last 15 games after a 65-60 win at UCF last Wednesday. SMU is 13-0 at home this season and has won 17 straight home games overall, tied for the ninth-longest active streak in the nation. This is the second matchup with ECU this season. The Mustangs claimed the first meeting, 75-44, in Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 31.
 
SMU has held the last 15 opponents to 66 points or less and has a season scoring defense of 59.5 (1st AAC, 3rd NCAA). SMU is also among the national leaders with a rebound margin of +11.0 (2nd AAC, 3rd NCAA), a field goal defense of .393 (5th AAC, 18th NCAA) and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 (2nd AAC, 15th NCAA).
 
Five Mustangs average at least 9.6 points with Semi Ojeleye leading SMU (17.7, 3rd AAC) followed by Shake Milton (13.5, 12th AAC), Ben Moore (11.9, 20th AAC), Sterling Brown (11.2, 24th AAC) and Jarrey Foster (9.6). SMU has had at least four score 10+ in 16 of 22 games. The Mustangs have outrebounded 19 of 22 opponents and have been at least +10 in 13 games (including 6 of 9 AAC games). Five average 4.3 or more rebounds with Moore (7.7, 5th AAC), Ojeleye (7.0, 13th AAC) and Brown (6.8, 15th AAC) leading SMU.
 
The Mustangs are shooting 46.3 percent from the field (2nd AAC) and 40.0 percent from three (1st AAC, 16th NCAA). Moore is shooting 57.7% (3rd AAC), with Foster at 51.9% (6th AAC) and Ojeleye at 48.5% (11th AAC).  Brown is second in The American in 3-point percentage at 45.3%, Ojeleye is third at 42.5% and Milton in fourth at 41.2%. Milton also leads SMU in assists (4.3, 6th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7, 3rd AAC, 35th NCAA). Brown also ranks among the AAC leaders in assists (3.3, 11th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9, 7th AAC). Brown and Milton are near the top of the league in steals with 1.5 (4th) and 1.3 (T-9th), respectively.
 
The Mustangs have won 14 of their last 15. SMU had a 10-game winning streak snapped at then No. 22/22 Cincinnati on Jan. 12 (L, 66-64). The winning streak was on the heels of a 4-3 start for the Mustangs. SMU has held its last 15 opponents to 66 points or less (56.7 per game).
W-L                                        4-3          14-1
Scoring Off.                          73.1        72.7
Scoring Def.                          65.3        56.7       
Scoring Margin                     7.9          16.0       
FG Pct.                                  .463        .463        
FG Pct. Def.                             .412        .384        
3Pt.FG Pct.                              .358        .416        
3Pt.FG Pct. Def.                      .328        .330        
Reb. Off.                                  40.9        38.7     
Reb. Def.                                 27.7        28.8
Reb. Margin                           13.1        9.9
 
LAST GAME (W, 65-60 at UCF on Jan. 25): ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Shake Milton scored 19 points, Semi Ojeleye added 14, and [RV/RV] SMU beat UCF 65-60 on Wednesday night to win its fourth straight. Ben Moore scored 14 and Sterling Brown made three 3-pointers for his 100th career trey for the Mustangs (18-4, 8-1 American). Trailing 35-26 at halftime, UCF closed to 60-56 with 49 seconds left to play after B.J. Taylor's back-to-back jumpers. SMU led 62-56 after Milton's two free throws but Tacko Fall dunked to make it 62-58. Ben Emelogu II's two free throws put SMU up 64-58 with 28 seconds left, then Taylor made a layup and the Knights trailed by four. Milton iced it with two free throws and Taylor missed a 3 before time expired. Taylor scored 22 and Matt Williams added 14 for UCF (14-6, 5-3), including his 221st trey to rank second in the school record book. Fall grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 10, including a first-half dunk that was so hard his goggles fell off, and had five blocks.
 
UP NEXT: SMU plays consecutive road games, at Tulsa on Feb. 4 (ESPNEWS, 6pm) and at Temple on Feb. 9 (ESPN2, 9pm ET/8pm CT) before hosting No. 14/14 Cincinnati on Feb. 12.
 
THE SERIES VS. EAST CAROLINA (10-4): SMU and East Carolina meet for the 15th time, with the Mustangs holding a 10-4 series lead. SMU has won five straight matchups, including four straight regular season meetings. SMU won the first meeting this season, 75-44, at East Carolina on Dec. 31, 2016. Last season, SMU swept ECU using a 79-55 win on Jan. 13 at East Carolina, before a 74-63 victory on Feb. 21 in Dallas. During the win streak, then-No. 20/21 SMU topped ECU, 62-54, in the American Athletic Conference Tournament on March 13, 2015. The first meeting was a 71-62 SMU win on Dec. 21, 1985 at the Kentucky Invitational.
 
LAST MEETING VS. EAST CAROLINA (W, 75-44, at East Carolina on Dec. 31): GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Ben Moore scored 18 points and all five SMU starters finished in double figures as the Mustangs cruised to a 75-44 win over East Carolina. Moore finished 8 of 10 from the field and added 11 rebounds. Shake Milton finished with 14 points, Sterling Brown had 13, while Jarrey Foster and Semi Ojeleye added 12 apiece for the Mustangs (12-3, 2-0 American). SMU has won eight straight to finish the month of December undefeated. The Mustangs last lost to Boise State on Nov. 30. SMU shot just 41.7 percent from the field but held East Carolina to 35.3 percent overall and 15 percent from 3-point range. Kentrell Barkley led East Carolina with 13 points, while Elijah Hughes added 10. Two Milton free throws gave the Mustangs a 10-point lead at halftime, and a Ben Emelogu II three made it 53-33 with 9:20 remaining. East Carolina never got back within 20.
 
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 184-125 (.595) [27-4 at SMU, including 20-0 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 46 of 61 games in Moody Coliseum since the renovated facility opened Jan. 4, 2014. 
 
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 (36-9) 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. 29                 W            L              PCT
SMU                                      36           9              .800
Cincinnati                            33           11           .750
Tulsa                                  32           12           .727
Temple                                 29           16           .644
Connecticut                        26           19           .578
Memphis                             24           21           .533
Houston                               22           24           .478
UCF                                    16           29           .356
East Carolina                      12           33           .267
Tulane                                  10           35           .222
USF                                        7              38           .156
 
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, Sterling Brown on Jan. 2 and Shake Milton on Jan. 23 and Jan. 30.
 
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 1077 career points (T-32nd 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 678 rebounds (13th at SMU), 112 blocked shots (8th at SMU), 210 assists and 86 steals. He is just the fifth Mustang to have at least 1000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocked shots. He is the first to also record at least 200 assists and ranks second in that group for steals.
                                                            Points       Rebs      Blocks   Assists  Steals
Jon Koncak, 1981-85                       1784       1169       278         173         74
Ira Terrell, 1972-76                           1715       1077       169         141         N/A
Papa Dia, 2007-11                             1437         911         143         133         91
Patrick Simpson, 2001-05              1271           759         151         122         69
Ben Moore, 2013-                            1077           678         112         210         86
 
2017-18 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS: SMU will play in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas. The event is Nov. 22-24 with Villanova, Tennessee, Arizona, Purdue, Western Kentucky, N.C. State & Northern Iowa.
 
2ND TO NONE: Seniors Sterling Brown and Ben Moore, both Chicago area natives (Brown is from Maywood and Moore is from Bolingbrook), are the all-time leaders in wins for SMU basketball. They are also among the leaders in several other career categories.
SMU CAREER WINS (in games played)
                1.            ^ 97        Sterling Brown, 2013-17
                2.            ^" 96      Ben Moore, 2013-17

                3.            85           Butch Moore, 1982-86
                4.            ^ 81        Cannen Cunningham, 2011-15
                5.            ^ 81        Ryan Manuel, 2011-15
                6.            80           Scott Johnson, 1983-87
                7.            79           Terry Williams, 1983-87
                8.            ^ 78        Nic Moore, 2013-16
                9.            73           Jon Koncak, 1981-85
                10.          72           Larry Davis, 1981-85
^ wins from 2013-14 later vacated
" Ben Moore missed the win vs. Brown 11/29/15
 
SMU CAREER STATS & RANKS
                Brown                           Moore

Games  123         T-5th             122         T-8th
Starts    93           11th               80
Points   887                                 1077       T-32nd
Rebounds           575                 25th       678         13th
Assists  264         18th               210
Blocks   45                                   112         8th
Steals    123         T-17th           86
FG%       .501        15th               .540        7th
3FG%    .453        2nd                N/A
3FGs      101         T-14th           N/A
 
SMU CAREER GAMES PLAYED
                1              134         Cannen Cunnningham, 2011-15
                                134         Ryan Manuel, 2011-15
                3              125         Butch Moore, 1982-86
                4              124         Papa Dia, 2007-11
                5              123         Jon Koncak, 1981-85
                                123         Robert Nyakundi, 2008-12
                                123         Sterling Brown, 2013-17
                8              122         Larry Davis, 1981-85
                                122         Scott Johnson, 1983-87
                                122         Ben Moore, 2013-17
 
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 in the top 20 for threes made (Milton T-14th w/ 101, Brown T-14th w/ 101).
SMU Career 3FG Pct. - 36.0%+ (min. 50 made)
                1              47.3        Eric Longino (62-131), 1987-89
                2              45.3        Sterling Brown (101-223), 2013-
                3              43.4        Robert Nyakundi (267-615), 2008-12
                4              42.2        Todd Alexander (92-218), 1987-89
                5              42.1        Nic Moore (225-534), 2013-16
                6              41.9        Shake Milton (101-241), 2015-
                7              41.1        Troy Dorner (51-124), 1991-94
                8              40.0        Carlton McKinney (64-160), 1986-88
                9              39.2        Rodney Clinkscales (87-222), 2009-12
                10           38.9        Jon Killen (119-306), 2004-08
 
SMU Best Season 3FG Pct (Since 1986-87) Minimum 20 Made

                1              53.6        Sterling Brown (Jr.), 2015-16 (30-56)
               2              53.2        Eric Longino (Sr.), 1988-89 (50-94)
                3              49.7        Robert Nyakundi (Jr.), 2010-11 (97-195)
                4              47.6        Troy Dorner (Sr.), 1993-94 (39-82)
                5              47.5        Scott Johnson (Sr.), 1986-87 (44-99)
                6              45.7        Lavardicus Atkins (Fr.), 2000-01 (21-46)
                7              45.3        Todd Alexander (Jr.), 1987-88 (82-181)
                                45.3        Ike Ofoegbu (Sr.), 2006-07 (29-64)
                                45.3        Sterling Brown (Sr.), 2016-17 (34-75)
                10           44.4        Sterling Brown (So.), 2014-15 (20-45)
                11           43.8        Jarrey Foster (So.), 2016-17 (21-48)
                12           43.6        Nic Moore (So.), 2013-14 (72-165)
                13           42.6        Shake Milton (Fr.), 2015-16 (52-122)
                14           42.5        Semi Ojeleye (Jr.), 2016-17 (45-106)
                15           41.8        Stephen Woods (So.), 1997-98 (74-177)
                                41.8        Brian Bernardi (Fr.), 2012-13 (23-55)
                ---
                21           41.2        Shake Milton (So.), 2016-17 (49-119)
 
26 - RPI: The Mustangs are No. 26 in the RPI (through Jan. 23) with a 6-4 mark against the top 100 (BPI 23, Kenpom 21, Sagarin 28, AP Poll 26, USA Today Coaches Poll 27).
RPI         Opponent                           Result 
16           at [22/22] Cincinnati        L, 66-64 on Jan. 12 
25           at USC                               L, 78-73 on Nov. 25
49           TCU                                    W, 74-59 on Dec. 7
57           vs. Pittsburgh                    W, 76-67 on Nov. 17 (2K Classic semifinal at Madison Square Garden)
62           Stanford                              W, 72-49 on Dec. 19
68           vs. Michigan                       L, 76-54 on Nov. 18 (2K Classic championship at Madison Square Garden)
73           Houston                               W, 85-64 on Jan. 21
78           Temple                                 W, 79-65 on Jan. 4
84           at Memphis                        W, 58-54 on Dec. 27
85           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 has had four score in double figures in 16 of 22 games this season with five in double figures four times (Eastern Michigan, McNeese, at East Carolina, Houston). The Mustangs almost have five averaging double figures. Semi Ojeleye leads SMU at 17.7 (3rd AAC) followed by Shake Milton at 13.5 (12th AAC), Ben Moore at 11.9 (20th AAC), Sterling Brown 11.2 (24th AAC) and Jarrey Foster at 9.6. 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 RECORDS THROUGH 10 CONFERENCE GAMES AT SMU:
Wins              Year       Final       Notes

1955-56         10-0       12-0       SWC Champions, NCAA Final Four
2014-15         9-1          15-3       AAC Champs, AAC Tournament Champs, NCAA
1992-93         9-1          12-2       SWC Champions, NCAA
1936-37         9-1          10-2       SWC Champions
2015-16         8-2          13-5      
1984-85         8-2          10-6       NCAA Tournament
1966-67         8-2          12-2       SWC Champions, NCAA
1959-60         8-2          10-4
1956-57         8-2          11-1       SWC Champions, NCAA
2016-17         8-1+       8-1
 
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 +11.0 rebound margin this season (2nd AAC, 3rd NCAA), outrebounding 19 of 22 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 115 of 152 since the start of 2012-13.
Season             Reb. Margin       AAC-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                      +11.0         2nd - 3rd              19 of 22 (+10 in 13 games)
 
SMU Season Rebound Margin (The previous 3 seasons are all in the top 6 in program history.)
---           11.0        2016-17
1.            10.2 (39.4-29.3) 2015-16
2.            8.4 (37.2-28.8)   1988-89
3.            6.7 (36.6-29.9)   2014-15
4.            5.7 (48.5-42.8)   1959-60
5.            5.0 (46.5-41.5)   1958-59
6.            4.8 (36.0-31.3)   2013-14
7.            4.6 (38.1-33.5)   1984-85
8.            4.3 (43.3-39.0)   1999-00
 
CRASHING THE GLASS - BALANCED REBOUNDING: SMU has 5 different players averaging 4.3 rebounds per game or better. Ben Moore leads SMU at 7.8 (5th AAC) followed by Semi Ojeleye at 7.0 (13th AAC), Sterling Brown at 6.8 (15th AAC), Jarrey Foster at 5.1 and Shake Milton at 4.3.
 
FG%: SMU is shooting 46.3% this season (2nd 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 117 of 155 opponents since the start of 2012-13. 
Season             FG%       AAC-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        2nd - 92nd           17 of 22
 
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              54.0        Ben Moore, 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           52.1        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           50.3        Tim Mason (549-1091), 1989-93
                15           50.1        Sterling Brown, 2013-
 
FG% DEFENSE: SMU has held opponents to 39.3% this season (5th AAC, 18th NCAA). In 2015-16, SMU held opponents to 40.0% from the floor (3rd AAC, 28th NCAA). In the past four seasons, SMU has held 84 of 155 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                             .393        5th - 18th             11 of 22
 
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE MUSTANGS (Current Roster): In the past few seasons, several Mustangs have played in international events or gone on international tours. Additionally, 2-time All-American Nic Moore helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2015 World University Games in South Korea. 
2016: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Croatia): Jarrey Foster, Shake Milton, Semi Ojeleye;
East Coast USA (Italy): Dashawn McDowell
2015: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Moore, Sterling Brown, Semi Ojeleye and Ben Emelogu II
2014: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Moore, Sterling Brown
 
MEN OF STEEL(S): In the 65-60 win at UCF on Jan. 25, SMU's starters each played 36 or more minutes including all 20 minutes of the second half (Semi Ojeleye 39, Shake MIlton 39, Ben Moore 38, Ben Emelogu 37, Sterling Brown 36). Jarrey Foster, a normal starter, missed the game due to injury. In the win, SMU had a season-high 13 steals on 15 UCF turnovers. The 13 steals tied the program record for a road game. All five starters had multiple steals (Shake Milton 3, Sterling Brown 3, Ben Moore 2, Semi Ojeleye 2, Ben Emelogu 2).
 
MOODY/HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: SMU has lost just four games (67 contests) at home since the start of the 2013-14 season. SMU has played 61 of those games in the renovated Moody Coliseum. In those 67 home games, SMU is averaging 76.1 points per game with a scoring margin of +17.0. SMU is shooting 50.3% 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 (13 games)      76.6        .491        56.0        .363
 
HOME WINNING STREAKS:
Wins      Start Date                                                                        End Date
34           Texas A&M; W, 92-48 (Feb. 6, 1954)                        Kansas; L, 73-65 (Sweet 16) (March 15, 1957)
19           Baylor; W, 74-57 (Feb. 15, 1984)                              Texas Tech; L, 59-54 (Feb. 27, 1985)
17+         [rv/rv] Gonzaga; W, 69-60 (Feb. 13, 2016)            
15 ^        Loyola Marymount; W, 73-58 (Nov. 11, 2013)          #11/9 Louisville; L, 84-71 (March 5, 2014)
15           Connecticut; 73-55 (Feb. 14, 2015)                            Tulsa; L, 82-77 (Feb. 10, 2016)
^Wins in 2013-14 later vacated
 
NCAA DIVISION I LONGEST ACTIVE HOME WINNING STREAKS (Through Jan. 29)
1              Kansas                          53
2              Oregon                         38
3              Akron                            28
4              New Mexico St.           22
5              Yale                                21
                Cincinnati                       21
7              Wisconsin                    18
                Arizona                         18
9              SMU                              17
                Florida St.                    17
                Illinois St.                     17
12           Texas Southern         16
                Villanova                     16
 
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.
 
PAINT IS KEY: SMU has a +7.5 advantage in the paint through 22 games (28.6 to 21.1). 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 126 of 155 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            17 of 22 (28.6 to 21.1)
 
TOP 25: SMU is receiving votes in both polls for the fourth straight week 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.
 
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.
 
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)
                Shake Milton - Jan. 23 (25.0 pts, 5.0 rebs, 5.5 asts, FG 18-31, 3FG 11-17 vs. UConn & Houston)
                Shake Milton - Jan. 30 (19 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls, 0 TOs in win at UCF)
- 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 11.2 points (24th AAC), 6.8 rebounds (15th AAC), 3.4 assists (11th AAC), 1.9 Assist/Turnover Ratio (7th AAC) and 1.5 steals (4th AAC)… FG% 41.7, 3FG% 45.3 (2nd AAC), FT% 72.9... 4 double-doubles…887 career points… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Double-digit scoring performances in 15-of-22 games (8 of last 12)… Scored a season high 20 points (8-12 FG, 4-6 3FG), with 3 steals at Cincinnati (Jan. 12)… Scored19 points (7-12 FG), including a career-high 5 3FG made (5-9) against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 14 points, with 8 rebounds and 6 assists at Memphis (Dec. 27)… Career high 8 assists against Connecticut (Jan. 19)… 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 5.0 points and 2.6 rebounds… Has three starts, including at UCF (Jan. 25)… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a season high 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3FG), with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal against Houston (Jan. 21)… Posted 11 points against USF (Jan. 7)… Scored 7 points with 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists at Tulane (Jan. 17)… 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 9.6 points and 5.1 rebounds… FG% 51.9 (6th AAC), 3FG% 43.8… 1 double-double… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: 10 double-digit scoring performances this season, with 4 in conference play… Scored a career-high 19 (7-12 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-3 FT) with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal at Tulane (Jan. 17)…Recorded 17 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for his first career double-double against USF (Jan. 7)… Had 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.): Played in 13 games… Has 6 points on the season… 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 22 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 13.5 points (12th AAC), 4.3 assists (6th AAC) and 1.3 steals (T-9th AAC)…FG% 42.2, 3FG% 41.2 (4th AAC), FT 84.1 (3rd AAC)… 2.7 Assist/Turnover ratio (3rd AAC)… GAME HIGHLIGTS: 18 double-digit scoring performances this season (12 of last 13 games)… First time in career with back-to-back 20+ point performances, with a career-high 27 points (10-15 FG, 6-8 3FG, 1-1 FT) against Houston (Jan. 21) and 23 points against Connecticut (Jan. 19)… Scored 19 points, with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 0 turnovers at UCF (Jan. 25)…Tallied 11 points with a career-high 9 rebounds at Tulane (Jan. 17)… Recorded a career-high 9 assists against Stanford (Dec. 19)… Has tallied 5+ assists in 10 games, with at least 3 in 20-of-22 games this season… AWARDS: Named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list… AAC preseason all-conference second team… AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice (Jan. 23, Jan. 30)
 
BEN MOORE (6-8, 220, F, Sr.): 2016-17: Averaging 11.9 points (20th AAC), 7.7 rebounds (5th AAC) and 1.1 blocked shots (T-13th AAC)… FG% 57.7 (3rd AAC), FT% 65.0 … 5 double-doubles…Has 1,077 career points…GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Has double-digit points in 17-of-22 games (7 of last 10)… 5+ rebounds in 19-of-22 games…Scored 18 points (including his 1,000th career point), with 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal against Temple (Jan. 4)… Scored a season-high 19 points at Boise State (Nov. 30)... Scored 14 at UCF, with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals… Posted 14 points with 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists against Connecticut (Jan. 19)… AWARDS: AAC preseason all-conference first team… Named to AAC Honor Roll (Dec. 5).
 
SEMI OJELEYE (6-7, 235, F, Jr.): 2016-17: Averaging 17.7 (3rd AAC) and 7.0 rebounds (13th AAC)… FG% 48.5 (11th AAC), 3FG% 42.5 (3rd AAC), FT% 75.4 (14th AAC)… Three double-doubles… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Has scored 10+ points in 21-of-22 games (14 straight games), with 20+ in 8… Set a career-high 28 points (9-15 FG, 4-6 3FG, 6-9 FT) against Albany (Dec. 20)… Scored 21 points twice (at Tulane (Jan. 17), USF (Jan. 7)… Posted 20 points, 6 rebounds and career highs in assists (4) and steals (3) against Houston (Jan. 21)… 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 8 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 16 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
 
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Players Mentioned

Markus Kennedy

#5 Markus Kennedy

Forward
6' 9"
RS SR
RS SR-2L
Nic Moore

#11 Nic Moore

Guard
5' 9"
RS SR
RS SR-2L
Sterling Brown

#3 Sterling Brown

Guard
6' 6"
SR
SR-3L
Ben Emelogu II

#21 Ben Emelogu II

Guard
6' 5"
RS JR
RS JR-1L
Jarrey Foster

#10 Jarrey Foster

Guard
6' 6"
SO
SO-1L
Shake Milton

#1 Shake Milton

Guard
6' 6"
SO
SO-1L
Ben Moore

#00 Ben Moore

Forward
6' 8"
SR
SR-3L
Semi Ojeleye

#33 Semi Ojeleye

Forward
6' 7"
RS JR
RS JR-TR
Jonathan Wilfong

#22 Jonathan Wilfong

Guard
6' 3"
SR
SR-3L

Players Mentioned

Markus Kennedy

#5 Markus Kennedy

6' 9"
RS SR
RS SR-2L
Forward
Nic Moore

#11 Nic Moore

5' 9"
RS SR
RS SR-2L
Guard
Sterling Brown

#3 Sterling Brown

6' 6"
SR
SR-3L
Guard
Ben Emelogu II

#21 Ben Emelogu II

6' 5"
RS JR
RS JR-1L
Guard
Jarrey Foster

#10 Jarrey Foster

6' 6"
SO
SO-1L
Guard
Shake Milton

#1 Shake Milton

6' 6"
SO
SO-1L
Guard
Ben Moore

#00 Ben Moore

6' 8"
SR
SR-3L
Forward
Semi Ojeleye

#33 Semi Ojeleye

6' 7"
RS JR
RS JR-TR
Forward
Jonathan Wilfong

#22 Jonathan Wilfong

6' 3"
SR
SR-3L
Guard