[rv/rv] SMU (19-4, 9-1 American) at Tulsa (12-9, 6-3 American)
Date / Tip-off	Sat., Feb. 4 - 6 p.m. CT
Location	Donald W. Reynolds Center -- Tulsa, Okla. -- Map
Tickets	Tickets
TV	ESPNews / WatchESPN -- Channel Finder/Broadcast Info
Radio	KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App
Game Notes	SMU | Tulsa | American
Live Stats	Sidearm
Facebook	/SMUBasketball | SMU Mustangs
Twitter	@SMUBasketball | @SMUMustangs
Instagram	@SMUBasketball | @SMU.Mustangs

 

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[rv/rv] SMU (19-4, 9-1) plays at Tulsa (12-9, 6-3) on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Mustangs have won 15 of the last 16 games after an 86-46 win over East Carolina on Wednesday. This is the first of two matchups with Tulsa. The second matchup is in Dallas on March 2. SMU is 4-1 on the road in American Athletic Conference play this season.
 
SMU has held the last 16 opponents to 66 points or less and has a season scoring defense of 58.9 (1st AAC, 3rd NCAA). SMU is also among the national leaders with a rebound margin of +10.9 (2nd AAC, 3rd NCAA), a field goal defense of .389 (4th AAC, 14th NCAA) and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.52 (2nd AAC, 9th NCAA).
 
Five Mustangs average at least 9.5 points with Semi Ojeleye leading SMU (17.8, 3rd AAC) followed by Shake Milton (13.7, 12th AAC), Ben Moore (12.0, 20th AAC), Sterling Brown (11.4, 23rd AAC) and Jarrey Foster (9.5). SMU has had at least four score 10+ in 17 of 23 games. The Mustangs have outrebounded 20 of 23 opponents and have been at least +10 in 13 games (including 6 of 10 AAC games). Five average 4.3 or more rebounds with Moore (7.9, 4th AAC), Brown (6.9, 13th AAC) and Ojeleye (6.7, 15th AAC) leading SMU.
 
The Mustangs are shooting 46.4 percent from the field (2nd AAC) and 39.7 percent from three (2nd AAC, 21st NCAA). Moore is shooting 56.9% (3rd AAC), with Foster at 50.9% (7th AAC) and Ojeleye at 48.2% (13th AAC).  Brown is second in The American in 3-point percentage at 44.3%, Milton is third at 41.9% and Ojeleye is fourth at 41.4% (Foster is at 44.9%, but doesn't qualify for AAC ranking). Milton also leads SMU in assists (4.3, T-5th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8, 3rd AAC, 33rd NCAA). Brown also ranks among the AAC leaders in assists (3.5, 11th AAC) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0, 7th AAC). Brown and Milton are near the top of the league in steals with 1.6 (4th AAC) and 1.3 (9th AAC), respectively.
 
The Mustangs have won 15 of their last 16, including five straight. 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 16 opponents to 66 points or less (56.1 per game).

 
LAST GAME (W, 86-46 vs. East Carolina on Feb. 1): DALLAS (AP) -- Shake Milton and Semi Ojeleye each scored 19 points and [rv/rv] SMU earned the season sweep of East Carolina with an 86-46 victory on Wednesday night. Sterling Brown finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for SMU (19-4, 9-1 American), while Ben Moore added 14 points and 11 boards. SMU held East Carolina below 50 points in each meeting this season, and the Pirates are the 16th straight opponent the Mustangs have held below 66 points. SMU ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense entering the night at 59.5 points per game. Kentrell Barkley scored 12 points for East Carolina (10-13, 2-8) which has lost six straight to the Mustangs. After trailing 7-5 early, SMU went on a 19-2 run to open a 15 point lead which reached 29 (49-20) by halftime. A Sterling Brown jumper extended the Mustangs lead past 40, 68-27, and the Pirates never threatened throughout.
 
UP NEXT: SMU plays a second straigh road game, at Temple on Feb. 9 (ESPN2, 9pm ET/8pm CT) before hosting No. 14/14 Cincinnati on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. (ESPN).
 
THE SERIES VS. TULSA (17-31): SMU is facing Tulsa for the 49th time, with Tulsa holding a 31-17 lead in the series. The Mustangs have won four of the last six meetings against the Golden Hurricane. Last season, the teams split two games with SMU winning the first, 81-69 at Tulsa on Dec. 29, 2015, before falling 82-77 in Moody Coliseum on Feb. 10, 2016. In 2014-15, the teams met in the 2014-15 regular season finale when the Mustangs clinched the American Athletic Conference Championship with a 67-62 win over the Golden Hurricane in Moody Coliseum on March 8, 2015. The teams were members of the WAC from 1996 to 2005 and then Conference USA from 2005 through 2013. The series between the two schools dates back to 1919-20.
 
LAST SEASON VS. TULSA (L, 82-77, Moody Coliseum on Feb. 10, 2016): DALLAS (AP) -- Shaquille Harrison had 21 points, Pat Birt hit a crucial 3-pointer and scored 12 of his 17 points after halftime and Tulsa rallied from eight points down in the second half to beat No. 16 SMU, 82-77. Nic Moore scored 27 to lead the Mustangs. Moore twice hit 3-pointers to pull SMU within a point in the final minute, but Birt answered the first with a 3 and James Woodard followed the second with two of his six free throws in the final 1:04. Woodard scored 20 points. SMU had its biggest lead at 60-52 with about 9 minutes remaining was still up six with 6 minutes to go when Woodard hit a 3-pointer, Harrison scored inside and Birt made one of his three second-half 3-pointers to put Tulsa ahead 69-68 with 3:25 left. D'Andre Wright put the Golden Hurricane ahead for good at 73-71 on a layup. After Moore's last 3 got SMU within 78-77 with 20 seconds to go, the Mustangs almost stole the inbound base before Tulsa secured the ball and got Woodard to the line, where he was 8 of 9. SMU head coach Larry Brown and Tulsa coach Frank Haith traded timeouts before the first media break in the second half, starting with Brown after a 9-0 Tulsa run broke a 36-all tie. Hatch had to match it when Markus Kennedy, who had all 13 of his points in the second half, scored inside twice and blocked a shot before a floater in the lane by Moore pulled SMU to 45-42. The SMU run reached 11-0 -- all the points by Kennedy and Moore -- on Moore's 3-pointer for a 47-45 SMU lead. Ben Moore had a game-high 11 rebounds. - (W, 81-69, at Tulsa on Dec. 29, 2015): TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Shake Milton scored a career-high 24 points and going 7-of-8 from 3-point range to lead No. 17 SMU to an 81-69 victory over Tulsa. Nic Moore added 23 points as the Mustangs shot 56.4 percent (31 of 55). Milton, who was 8-of-9 overall from the field, hit his second 3-pointer of the second half to give SMU a 60-48 lead with 13:08 remaining. The closest Tulsa came after that was 68-62 on a 3-pointer by James Woodard with 7:11 to play. The Mustangs scored on their next four possessions to make it 73-62. Milton's shots were mostly wide open corner jumpers after the Tulsa defense had collapsed on SMU's inside players. Ben Moore added 11 points and 10 rebounds for SMU. The Golden Hurricane shot 44.1 percent, but had no answers defensively for the Mustangs, who led for the final 36 minutes. Milton helped SMU to a 41-35 halftime lead by making his first six shots, including five unguarded 3-pointers, before missing a contested 3 on the final possession. With Moore and Markus Kennedy making 5 of 6 shots inside, the Mustangs shot 59.3 percent for the half, then scored on their first six possessions of the second half to push the lead to 55-44.
 
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 185-125 (.597) [28-4 at SMU, including 21-0 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)
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WINS: SMU leads The American in league wins (37-9) 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.
 
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 1091 career points (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 689 rebounds (12th at SMU), 113 blocked shots (8th at SMU), 212 assists and 89 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-                                    1091       689         113         212         89
 
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.            ^ 98        Sterling Brown, 2013-17
                2.            ^" 97      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                  124         T-4th             123         T-6th
Starts                    94           T-10th           81
Points                   902                             1091       32nd
Rebounds           584         23rd               689         12th
Assists                 269         18th               212
Blocks                   45                                   113         8th
Steals                126         T-14th                   89
FG%                   .502        15th                   .539        7th
3FG%                .449        2nd                    0-2
3FGs                  102         15th               N/A
 
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 15 for threes made.
SMU Career 3FG Pct. - 36.0%+ (min. 50 made)
                1              47.3        Eric Longino (62-131), 1987-89
                2              44.9        Sterling Brown (102-227), 2013- (6th in NCAA D-I among active student-athletes)
                3              43.4        Robert Nyakundi (267-615), 2008-12
                4              42.3        Shake Milton (104-246), 2015- (31st in NCAA D-I among active student-athletes)
                5              42.2        Todd Alexander (92-218), 1987-89
                6              42.1        Nic Moore (225-534), 2013-16
                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)
                9              44.9        Jarrey Foster (So.), 2016-17 (22-49)
                10           44.4        Sterling Brown (So.), 2014-15 (20-45)
                11           44.3        Sterling Brown (Sr.), 2016-17 (35-79)
                12           43.6        Nic Moore (So.), 2013-14 (72-165)
                13           42.6        Shake Milton (Fr.), 2015-16 (52-122)
                14           41.9        Shake Milton (So.), 2016-17 (52-124)
                15           41.8        Stephen Woods (So.), 1997-98 (74-177)
                                41.8        Brian Bernardi (Fr.), 2012-13 (23-55)
                17           41.7        Carlton McKinney (Sr.), 1987-88 (35-84)
                18           41.6        Nic Moore (Jr.), 2014-15 (77-185)
                19           41.4        Robert Nyakundi (Sr.), 2011-12 (84-203)
                                41.4        Semi Ojeleye (Jr.), 2016-17 (46-111)
 
SMU Career 3FG Made - 70+ (Games Played)
                1              273         Stephen Woods, 1996-00
                2              267         Robert Nyakundi, 2008-12
                3              256         Bryan Hopkins, 2002-06
                4              225         Nic Moore, 2013-16
                5              220         Troy Matthews, 1993-97
                6              170         Quinton Ross, 1999-03
                7              161         Chad Allen, 1990-94
                8              133         Jeryl Sasser, 1997-01
                9              131         Mike Walker, 2007-11
                10           121         Jemeil Rich, 1994-97
                11           119         Jon Killen, 2004-08
                12           107         Damon Hancock, 1998-02
                13           104         Shake Milton, 2015-
                14           103         Derrick Roberts, 2004-08
                15           102         Sterling Brown, 2013-
 
27 - RPI: The Mustangs are No. 27 in the RPI (through Feb. 2) with a 6-4 mark against the top 100 (BPI 21, Kenpom 16, Sagarin 26, AP Poll 26, USA Today Coaches Poll 27).
 
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 17 of 23 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 17.8 (3rd AAC) followed by Shake Milton at 13.7 (12th AAC), Ben Moore at 12.0 (20th AAC), Sterling Brown 11.4 (23rd AAC) and Jarrey Foster at 9.5. 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
2016-17     9-1
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
 
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 +10.9 rebound margin this season (2nd AAC, 3rd NCAA), outrebounding 20 of 23 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 118 of 156 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         +10.9             2nd - 3rd              20 of 23 (+10 in 13 games)
 
SMU Season Rebound Margin (The previous 3 seasons are all in the top 6 in program history.)
---           10.9                      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 7.9 (4th AAC) followed by Sterling Brown at 6.9 (13th AAC), Semi Ojeleye at 6.7 (15th AAC), Jarrey Foster at 5.2 and Shake Milton at 4.3.
 
FG%: SMU is shooting 46.4% 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 118 of 156 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         .464        2nd - 85th            18 of 23

FG% DEFENSE: SMU has held opponents to 38.9% this season (4th AAC, 14th 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 85 of 156 opponents at or below 40%.
Season         FG% Def.   Conf.-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         .389            4th - 14th             12 of 23
 
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).
 
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 +8.1 advantage in the paint through 23 games (29.0 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 127 of 156 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         18 of 23 (29.0 to 20.9)
 
ROAD WARRIORS: The Mustangs are 20-11 on the road since the start of the 2014-15 season with a 25-13 mark away from Moody Coliseum (5-2 neutral site). SMU is 16-7 in AAC road games in that stretch (7-2 in 2014-15; 5-4 in 2015-16; 4-1 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 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.

STREAKS:
10+points: Semi Ojeleye 15 (15, 23, 16, 13, 28, 17, 12, 19, 21, 12, 21, 17, 20, 16, 19), Ben Moore 6 (11, 15, 14, 10, 14, 14), Shake Milton 6 (13, 11, 23, 27, 19, 19), Sterling Brown (15)
Longest This Season: Semi Ojeleye 15+ (12/4-)
8+ rebounds: Ben Moore (11), Sterling Brown (9) 
Long: Semi Ojeleye 4 (12/27-1/7)
Dbl-Dbl: Ben Moore (14 pts, 11 rebs)
Long: Semi Ojeleye (11/11, 11/25, 12/27), Ben Moore (11/30, 12/4, 12/31, 1/12, 1/19, 2/1-), Sterling Brown (12/4, 12/14, 12/31, 1/12), Jarrey Foster (1/7) 
5+ assists: Shake Milton 3 (6, 5, 5), Ben Emelogu (6), Sterling Brown (5)
Long: Shake Milton 3 (11/13-11/18; 1/4-1/12, 1/21-)
3+ steals: Sterling Brown 3 (4, 3, 3), Ben Emelogu (4), Ben Moore (3)
Long: Sterling Brown 3+ (1/21-)
2+ blocks:
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)
                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 11.4 points (23rd AAC), 6.9 rebounds (13th AAC), 3.5 assists (11th AAC), 2.0 Assist/Turnover Ratio (7th AAC) and 1.6 steals (4th AAC)… FG% 42.3, 3FG% 44.3 (2nd AAC), FT% 74.6 (15th AAC)... 4 double-doubles…902 career points… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Double-digit scoring performances in 16-of-23 games (9 of last 13)… 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 15 points, with 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals against UCF (Feb. 1)… 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 4.9 points and 2.7 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 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds… FG% 50.9 (7th AAC), 3FG% 44.9… 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 14 games… Has 8 points on the season in 20 minutes of play… 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 23 games… Scored a career-high 7 points (2-5 FG, 3-4 FT) against McNeese (Dec. 14)… Scored 5 points, with a rebound and assist against East Carolina (Feb. 1)… Recorded 3 rebounds in 6 minutes against East Carolina… Scored 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 13.7 points (12th AAC), 4.3 assists (T-5th AAC) and 1.3 steals (9th AAC)…FG% 43.5, 3FG% 41.9 (3rd AAC), FT 84.6 (T-2nd AAC)… 2.8 Assist/Turnover ratio (3rd AAC)… GAME HIGHLIGTS: 19 double-digit scoring performances this season (13 of last 14 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 11 games, with at least 3 in 21-of-23 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 12.0 points (20th AAC), 7.9 rebounds (4th AAC) and 1.1 blocked shots (12th AAC)… FG% 56.9 (3rd AAC), FT% 65.9 … 6 double-doubles…Has 1,091 career points… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Has double-digit points in 18-of-23 games (8 of last 11)… 5+ rebounds in 20-of-23 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 17.8 (3rd AAC) and 6.7 rebounds (15th AAC)… FG% 48.2 (13th AAC), 3FG% 41.4 (4th AAC), FT% 76.0 (14th AAC)… Three double-doubles… GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Has scored 10+ points in 22-of-23 games (15 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 9 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 17 games… Scored 2 points with 1 rebound against East Carolina (Feb. 1)… Recorded a rebound at 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