SMU (14-6, 4-3 American) plays at Connecticut (10-9, 3-3) on Thursday. The Mustangs have won two straight following an 83-78 win at then-No. 7/4 Wichita State last Wednesday and a 73-62 victory versus Tulane on Saturday.

SMU was named the NABC National Team of the Week following the pair of victories. Shake Milton was named The American Co-Player of the Week as he led the Mustangs with averages of 26.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He scored a career-high 33 points in the win at Wichita State.

The Mustangs are third in The American in scoring defense at 62.0 (7th NCAA). The Mustangs lead the AAC in 3-point percentage (.412, 13th NCAA) and are second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4, 21st NCAA), turnover margin (3.5, 27th NCAA), 3-pointers made (8.7), steals (8.1), turnovers (11.7) and turnovers forced (15.2). SMU is third in the AAC in assists and 38th nationally at 16.5 per game.

All five starters are averaging averaging double-digit scoring with Shake Milton leading the team at 18.4 (4th AAC), followed by Ethan Chargois at 11.1, Ben Emelogu at 10.3, Jahmal McMurray at 10.3 and Jimmy Whitt at 10.0. Emelogu is leading the AAC in 3-point percentage at 56.6 on 47-83 with Milton at 43.6 percent (3rd AAC), McMurray hitting 42.1 percent, and Chargois hitting 40.3 percent.

Milton is third in the AAC at 4.6 assists per game with Whitt ninth in the AAC at 3.6 per game. Whitt is fourth in the AAC with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, followed by Milton at 2.0 (6th AAC).

QUICK HITS:

- SMU is one of two teams with three wins over AP Top 15 teams in 2017-18 (No. 2 Arizona, No. 14 USC, No. 7 Wichita State), Oklahoma is the other

- Shake Milton is one of 12 players nationally (1 of 2 in the AAC) averaging at least 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

- Shake Milton has scored 10+ in 21 straight games and 20+ 8 times

- Milton leads active AAC players in 3s (185), 3% (.427), 3rd in assists (332)

- Ben Emelogu leads the AAC in 3FG percentage (.566, 47-83)

- Jimmy Whitt had 5 steals in each matchup with Tulane, he is one of four in the AAC with multiple 5+ steal games

- All 5 SMU starters have received weekly honors from The American (Shake Milton 3x POTW, Ethan Chargois 2x ROTW, Jimmy Whitt HR, Jarrey Foster HR, Ben Emelogu HR)

- SMU is 49-12 in AAC play since start of 2014-15 (best in the league)

- SMU is +9.3 points in the second half this season, 7th nationally

- SMU is 13th nationally in the percentage of FGs assisted (.630)

- SMU is 3rd in the AAC and 7th nationally in scoring defense (62.0)

- SMU leads the AAC and is 13th nationally in 3FG percentage (.412)

20 x 3: Shake Milton has scored 20+ in three straight, the longest 20-point streak since 2012.

2 - Nic Moore - Tulsa (27) 2/10/16; [rv/rv] Gonzaga (25)

3 - Jalen Jones - at TCU (21) 11/15/12; at Texas State (24) 11/17/12; Malone (20) 11/19/12

4 - Bryan Hopkins: Baylor (26) 12/16/04; UAPB (32) 12/20/04; at Rice (20) 12/30/04; at Tulsa (32) 1/1/05

MILTON EARNS THIRD AAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Shake Milton was named The American Co-Player of the Week. Milton averaged 26.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in wins at then-No. 7/4 Wichita State and against Tulane to earn his third POTW Award this season. He is on the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Lute Olson and Bob Cousy watch lists, recorded 33- and 20-point performances, while shooting 53.3 percent from the field (16-30) and 7-11 from three. In the 83-78 win at Wichita State, Milton scored a career-high 33 points on 11-14 shooting, including 5-6 from three-point range, while playing all 40 minutes. In the second half, he  scored 21 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 3FG, 4-4 FT). He also had five assists with three rebounds. Milton led SMU past Tulane, 73-62, with his eighth 20-point performance of the season. He had 18 points in the final 13 minutes of play. He also had five assists and five rebounds.

LAST GAME (W, 73-62 vs Tulane on Jan. 20): SMUMustangs.com: DALLAS (SMU) - On Wednesday against Wichita State, everything was falling all night for Shake Milton. Against Tulane on Saturday night, that wasn't the case, but the junior still rose to the occasion in the second half for the Mustangs. Milton stayed aggressive and was the go-to guy down the stretch for the Mustangs, scoring 18 of his 20 points over the final 13 minutes as SMU knocked off Tulane, 73-62. Jahmal McMurray also played a large role in SMU (14-6, 4-3) not letting another game against Tulane (12-7, 3-4) slip away in the second half. The junior scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes, McMurray didn't miss a shot while knocking down four of his five free throws. Milton and McMurray combined to score SMU's final 21 points.  Sophomore Jimmy Whitt provided a spark on both ends of the floor and was a big reason SMU was in a position for Milton and McMurray to take over late. Whitt scored 18 on incredibly efficient 9-for-14 shooting. Defensively, the Columbia, Missouri, native registered a steal on four straight Tulane possessions in the first half that energized the team and Moody Coliseum in the first half while also cutting into the Green Wave's early lead. Senior Ben Emelogu rounded out SMU's double-digit scorers, dropping in 11 points while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. After withstanding Tulane's hot shooting in the first half, SMU built an eight-point lead through the midway part of the second half. Similar to the matchup earlier this season in New Orleans, Tulane mounted a second-half rally to take the lead at 55-54 with 5:42 to play. This time though, SMU wasn't letting another one slip away against the Green Wave. The Mustangs closed the game on a 19-7 run for the 11-point victory. The Mustangs were able to get the win despite Tulane having a much more effective night from behind-the-arc. SMU made up for it by having its best night of the season from the free throw line (17-of-20) and forcing Tulane into 14 turnovers compared to the Mustangs' six. 

ALL-TIME GREAT GENE PHILLIPS TO BE HONORED JAN. 28: DALLAS (SMU) --- SMU will honor the jersey of all-time great Gene Phillips at Moody Coliseum during a halftime ceremony on January 28. Phillips wore number 23 during his basketball career from 1968-71. Phillips was a three-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year and SWC first-team honoree. The 2011 SMU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee averaged 26.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his three-season career on the Hilltop. He set the program record with 1,932 career points, which is still second. His 26.1 points per game for a career are also the SMU standard. He also holds the marks for the top two seasons at SMU in scoring and scoring average; totaling 737 points with a 28.3 average in 1970-71 and adding 685 points for a 28.5 average in 1969-70. He set the SMU and SWC record with 51 points at Texas on March 2, 1971, and scored 30 or more points 24 times. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971 NBA Draft and played two seasons with the ABA's Dallas Chaparrals.

NABC SUITS & SNEAKERS (JAN. 22-28): The SMU coaching staff is participating in the annual NABC Suits & Sneakers event for both games this week. The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. This initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, coaches have raised over $100 million for the American Cancer Society.

COACHING FOR LITERACY (Jan. 28 - SMU vs East Carolina 1pm): This is the fourth straight season SMU will host a CFL game; set for Jan. 28 vs East Carolina. Jonathan Wilfong (SMU '17) and Andrew Renshaw, two then-high school seniors from Memphis, Tennessee, founded Coaching for Literacy in 2012. The premise is that a participant offers a monetary donation and, in exchange, gets to be the "Assistant Coach" during a sporting event. Proceeds raised from the event go towards funding effective literacy programs focused on helping elementary and middle school students. Coaching for Literacy partners with collegiate and professional sports teams for a unique game-day experience. --- The mission of Coaching for Literacy is to increase awareness about the number of people in America who are functionally or totally illiterate and the social problems associated with illiteracy. By leveraging the unique power of collegiate and professional sports, Coaching for Literacy raises money to supports effective local literacy programs and schools focused on educating elementary and middle school students. SMU hosted two CFL events in 2014-15, two in 2015-16 and one in 2016-17. In 2016-17, the SMU staff wore neon green ties during a three-game stretch as part of the awareness effort from the home win against Stanford on Dec. 19 through the win a Memphis, WIlfong's home town, on Dec. 27.

UP NEXT: SMU hosts East Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Mustangs then play two straight road games, at Tulsa on Feb. 1 and at Houston on Feb. 8.

THE SERIES VS. CONNECTICUT (8-2+): SMU and UConn will meet for the 11th time. SMU won both games in 2016-17. SMU opened the season series with a 69-49 win in Moody Coliseum on Jan 19, 2017, before a 69-61 in Hartford, Conn on Feb. 25. The two teams split the 2015-16 season's series, with UConn winning the first matchup at Connecticut, 68-62, before SMU rolled to an 80-54 win on senior day to finish its home slate. The first game in the series was an 80-66 Mustang victory in Dallas on Dec. 30, 1965. In 2014-15, the Mustangs won two of three meetings with the Huskies last season, including a 62-54 victory in the championship of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The other meetings in Dallas were the opening of the renovated Moody Coliseum on Jan. 4, 2014 (W, 74-65 over then #17/15 Connecticut) and ESPN College Gameday on Feb. 14, 2015 (W, 73-55). (+6-2 officially)

LAST SEASON VS. CONNECTICUT (W, 69-61 at XL Center on Feb. 25, 2017): HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- It was Shake Milton's turn to be SMU's hot shooter. Milton scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the first half to lead the 17th-ranked Mustangs to a 69-61 victory over UConn. The Mustangs won their 11th straight and haven't lost since Jan. 12 at Cincinnati. Semi Ojeleye had 16 points, Ben Moore added 15 and Sterling Brown had 11 as four of the seven players finished in double figures. Milton came in well rested since the Mustangs had a week off between games and he played only 26 minutes in the previous win over Houston on Feb. 18 due to foul trouble. The Mustangs rode the hot shooting of Milton, who made 6 of 7 from 3-point range, to lead 41-30 at halftime. SMU led by as many as 16 points, with Milton's fifth 3-pointer giving it a 31-15 lead with 8:04 to play. The Huskies were led by Kentan Facey's 15 points. Freshman Christian Vital and Vance Jackson each added 14, while Rodney Purvis had 11. In addition to trailing by double digits before halftime, the Huskies also lost point guard Jalen Adams to a sprained left ankle with just under 3 minutes left in the half. Adams did not return and remains day-to-day. Without Adams, UConn pulled within five, 57-52, with 9:20 to play on Purvis' 3-pointer. Purvis had a rough night shooting at 4 of 18, but he hit two 3-pointers and Vital added two more as the Huskies mounted a comeback. Jankovich called a timeout to settle his team down, and it worked. SMU responded with a 9-2 run to lead 66-54 with 4:30 left. The Mustangs shot 45.1 percent (23 for 51) from the field, including 13 for 26 in the first half. UConn hit 39.7 percent overall (23 for 58). (W, 69-49 at Moody Coliseum on Jan. 19, 2017): DALLAS (AP) -- Shake Milton made five 3-pointers and had 23 points and six assists to lead SMU past UConn 69-49 for the Mustangs' 16th straight home win. It's tied for the ninth longest active NCAA home winning streak and the third longest in SMU history. SMU closed the first half on a 26-5 spurt -- including a 16-0 run -- to take a 36-15 lead at intermission. UConn's last make of the first half was at the 5:35 mark on Christian Vital's 3-pointer. Semi Ojeleye added 17 points for SMU and Ben Moore had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Sterling Brown led the Mustangs with eight assists and they had 22 helpers on 27 made field goals. SMU committed just five turnovers. Vance Jackson led UConn with 17 points and Kentan Facey had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. The Huskies shot just 34 percent from the floor and turned it over 16 times.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Mustangs are 25-14 on the road since the start of the 2014-15 season with a 34-19 mark away from Moody Coliseum (9-5 neutral site). SMU is 21-9 in AAC road games in that stretch (7-2 in 2014-15; 5-4 in 2015-16; 8-1 in 2016-17; 1-2 in 2017-18). 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.)

HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his second season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 35th season as a collegiate coach, and his 13th as a head coach. In 2016-17, SMU finished 30-5 and No. 11 in the AP poll after winning The American regular season and tournament titles en route to the NCAA Tournament. In 2015-16, he coached the Mustangs to a 9-0 start as SMU was eventually the last unbeaten team in the country at 18-0, and winning the Las Vegas Classic title during the season-opening streak. The Mustangs went 25-5, finishing the season ranked No. 24 after reaching a high of No. 8. In 2014-15, the Mustangs claimed the AAC 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 11th 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 210-132 (.614) [53-11 at SMU (.828), including 37-1 at Moody Coliseum (started 36-0, second best in NCAA history)].
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.

- 7 Conference Titles (Colorado St. - WAC '89, '90; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06, '07; SMU - AAC '15, '17)

- 5 Conference Tournament Titles (Illinois - Big Ten '03; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06; SMU - AAC '15, '17)

- 10 NCAAs (CSU '89, '90; Oklahoma St '93; Illinois '03; Kansas '04 RF, '05, '06, '07 RF; SMU - '15, '17)

- 8 NITs (CSU '88, Vanderbilt '00, '02; Illinois State '08, '09, '10, '12; SMU '14 Final)

BEST WINNING PCT. - CURRENT SCHOOL (At least 2nd season - Through Jan. 21)

TIm Jankovich (SMU) - .828

Bill Self (Kansas) - .826

John Calipari (Kentucky) - .819

Mark Few (Gonzaga) - .817

Mike Kzyzewski (Duke) - .788

Roy Williams (UNC) - .777

Sean Miller (Arizona) - .771

Gregg Marshall (Wichita St.) - .746

NABC NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK (JAN. 15-21): SMU was named the NABC Division I National Team of the Week wins at then-No. 7/4 Wichita State and against Tulane. The Mustangs snapped the Shockers' Koch Arena 27-game winning streak, 83-78.  SMU shot 63.8 percent from the field (30-47), while going 50.0 percent (11-22) from behind the 3-point arc. Shake Milton scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, while playing all 40 minutes. In the second half, he scored 21 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 3FG, 4-4 FT). Jahmal McMurray scored his season-high with 16 points while dropping in three shots from 3-point range. SMU then knocked off Tulane, 73-62. Milton led the Mustangs with 20 points, 18 points in the final 13 minutes of play, while Jimmy Whitt added 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Whitt also registered five steals, including a steal on four straight Tulane possessions.

Akoy Agau (6-8, 235, F, Sr.): 2017-18: Played in 14 games, started 1 (at Tulane)… Nine points (4-4 FG, 1-1 FT), with six rebounds, a block and an assist in 23 minutes vs. Tulane… Four points and three rebounds vs. [7/4] Wichita State… Made SMU debut against Arizona… 2016-17 at Georgetown: Played in 32 games, starting eight… Averaged 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Ethan Chargois (6-9, 235, F, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 19 games (missed Tulane due to illness)… Double digit scoring in 11 of 19 games… 20+ points in 3… Averaging 11.1 points (28th AAC), 4.9 rebounds… Shooting 49.7% FG (75-151) (14th AAC), 40.3% 3FG (27-67)… Recorded career-high 23 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3FG, 4-4 FT) and 9 rebounds against ULM… Scored 21 points (8-13 FG, 2-5 3FG, 3-3 FT) with 7 rebounds, a steal and an assist against [20/20] TCU… Scored 21 points (8- 12 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-2 FT) with five rebounds, 2 assists and a block against Western Kentucky… AWARDS: AAC Rookie of the Week (11/13, 12/18).

William Douglas (6-5, 180, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 20 games… 3+ steals in 2 (Western Kentucky, USC)… Scored 8 points, with 3 rebounds and an assist against Northwestern State… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 4.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals…had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists in the opener at McGill.

Ben Emelogu II (6-6, 215, G, Sr.): 2017-18: 10+ points in 11 of 20 games… Averaging 10.3 points… 5.1 rebounds (19th AAC)… 52.2 FG% (71-136) (10th AAC)… 56.6 3FG% (47-83) (1st AAC)… 1.4 steals (11th AAC)… Scored his SMU career-high 20 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3FG, 1-3 FT) with 5 rebounds and 2 steals in the win vs [2/4] Arizona 11/23... Scored 19 points (6-6 FG, 5-5 3FG, 2-2 FT) with 2 rebounds, an assist and a block vs. Cal Poly… Had 16 points (6-7 FG, 4-5 3FG) with 6 rebounds and 3 steals against [14/18] USC… AWARDS: Named AAC Co-Sixth Man of the Year… AAC Weekly Honor Roll (12/26)… Named a Senior CLASS award candidate.

Jarrey Foster (6-6, 220, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Will miss remainder of 2017-18 (ACL)… Double digit scoring in 14 of 19 games… Removed after 5 minutes at [7/4] Wichita State due to injury… Scored 19 points 4 times this season… Averaging 13.2 points (15th AAC), 5.9 rebounds (12th AAC)… 2.8 offensive rebounds (3rd AAC)… 1.2 blocks per game (11th AAC)… Had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block vs. [20/20] TCU… AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (1/2/18).

Elijah Landrum (6-0, 180, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played 19 games… Scored 7 points with an assist in 14 minutes against UTRGV… Had 5 points with 2 rebounds against UAPB… Scored 1 point, with 3 assists and 1 steal against ULM… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 6.3 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Jahmal McMurray (6-0, 175, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Played 9 games, made first career start vs. Tulane… Score 10+ in 5 of 9… Averaging 10.3 points… Scored 16 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3FG, 1-2 FT) with 3 assists, 2 steals and a rebound at [7/4] Wichita State 1/17… Scored 16 points (6-11 FG, 4-7 3FG) with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in season debut (18 minutes) vs [--/rv] Boise State… Had 13 points (4-8 FG, 5-7 FT) with 2 rebound vs. Tulane… 2016-17 at USF: Played in 3 games… Averaged 20.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists… Had 25 points on 8-17 FGs and 5-7 3FGs with 3 rebounds vs. South Carolina 12/17...Named Preseason All-AAC Second Team.

Shake Milton (6-6, 205, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Double digit scoring in 20 games, 21 straight going back to 2016-17… 20+ points in 8 games, 3 straight and 4 of the last 5 (20 vs. Tulane, 33 at [7/4] Wichita State, 25 vs. Temple, 24 at Tulane)… Averaging 18.4 points (4th AAC)… 4.6 assists (3rd AAC)… 1.5 steals (9th AAC)… 2.0 assist/turnover ratio (6th AAC)… 43.6% 3FG% (3rd AAC)… 83.8% FT% (88-105, 4th AAC)… Scored a career-high 33 at [7/4] Wichita State (11-14 FG, 5-6 3FG, 6-6 FT) with 5 assists and 3 rebounds… Had 25 points (8-12 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block vs. Temple… Had 24 points (9-14 FG, 3-3 3FG, 3-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal at Tulane… Scored his 1,000th career point against UCF (41st in program history w/ 1,000)… AWARDS: AAC Player of the Week (11/13, 12/4, 1/22)… Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Bob Cousy, Lute Olson Watch List… AAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Isiaha Mike (6-8, 200, F, So.): 2017-18: Sitting out after transferring from Duquesne... 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists... 2016-17 at Duquesne: Played and started in all 32 games… Averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds (15th A-10) and 1.6 assists… FG% 43.4, 3FG% 33.3… 2 double-doubles… Had double-digit points in 18 games, with 20+ in four… 5+ rebounds in 21 games... AWARDS: Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team (March 7).

James Pyle (6-3, 175, G, So.): 2017-18: Played in 11 games… Scored 2 points against Northwestern State… 2016-17: Played in 12 games… Had 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.

Everett Ray (6-7, 220, F, Fr.): 2017-18: Will miss remainder of 2017-18 (Broken foot)… Played in 16 games… Recorded first career double-double (12 points (5-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-4 FT) and 10 rebounds) against UAPB… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 3.3 points (5-10 FG), 10.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists… Had 6 points & 17 rebounds in the final game vs M.A.D.E. of the Crown League.

Jimmy Whitt (6-3, 175, G, So.): 2017-18: Averaging 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds (T20th AAC)… 3.6 assists (9th AAC), 2.0 steals (3rd AAC)… 57.1 FG% (88-154, 4th AAC)… 2.1 assist/turnover ratio (4th AAC)… Recorded 18 points (9-14 FG) with five steals (4 in 4 straight possessions), three assists, two rebounds and a block vs. Tulane… Recorded career-high 19 points (8-11 FG, 3-5 FT) and 8 assists, while tying his career-high 3 steals against New Orleans… Had 18 points (9-12 FG) with 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals against UTRGV… Scored 16 points (8-9 FG) with 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists vs. [--/rv] Boise State… Had 14 points (7-12 FG) with 4 rebounds and 3 steals against [14/18] USC…AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (12/18)

Luke Wilfong (6-1, 170, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 10 games… Scored a 3-pointer against USF… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Played in the finale vs. M.A.D.E. of the Crown League, recording a steal and a rebound.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WINS (Through Jan. 21): SMU leads The American in league wins (49-12) since the start of the 2014-15 season. The Mustangs have won the AAC regular season and tournament titles in 2014-15 and 2016-17. SMU went 17-1 in 2016-17 and 15-3 in 2014-15. SMU finished second at 13-5 in 2015-16, one game behind Temple.

AP TOP 15 WINS (Through Jan. 21): The Mustangs have five wins against the AP top 15 in the past two seasons. Only SMU, Kansas, Duke and Oklahoma have two top-10 wins away from home this season.

Feb. 12, 2017 - No. 11 Cincinnati, 60-51

March 12, 2017 - vs. No. 15 Cincinnati, 71-56 (AAC Tournament Championship)

Nov. 23, 2017 - No. 2 Arizona, 66-60 (Battle 4 Atlantis)

Dec. 2, 2017 - No. 14 USC, 72-55

Jan. 17, 2018 - at No. 7 Wichita State, 83-78

WINS vs TOP 15 PAST TWO SEASONS

8 - Kansas

7 - Duke

6 - Arizona, Butler, Florida State, North Carolina, Villanova, West Virginia

5 - SMU, Virginia, Michigan

AP RANKED WINS: SMU has three wins over ranked teams this season.

Total      Season 

4              1955-56 at No. 20 Minnesota, No. 18 Kansas, vs. No. 17 Houston, vs. No. 16 Oklahoma City (SWC Champs, NCAA Final Four)

4^           2013-14 No. 17 Connecticut, No. 22 Memphis, No. 7 Cincinnati, at No. 21 Connecticut (NIT Final)

3              1984-85 vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, vs. No. 5 North Carolina, No. 19 Louisville (NCAA Second Round)

3              2017-18 vs No. 2 Arizona, No. 14 USC, at No. 7 Wichita State

^Wins later vacated

AAC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR - 3 STRAIGHT: The Mustangs have taken home three straight AAC Player of the Year honors. Nic Moore was awarded the league's top honor in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Semi Ojeleye took home the award in 2016-17. This is the longest active streak nationally for the league men's basketball player of the year.

AAC SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR - 3 STRAIGHT: The Mustangs have taken home three straight AAC Sixth Man of the Year honors. Markus Kennedy was awarded the league's top reserve honor in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Ben Emelogu II shared the award in 2016-17. 

AWARDS IN PRESEASON - BOB COUSY AWARD, LUTE OLSON AWARD, WOODEN AWARD & NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LISTS/AAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Junior guard Shake Milton is one of 20 candidates named to the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award watch list by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of 40 on the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Watch List, one of 50 on the Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List and a member of the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50. Milton was also named the 2017-18 preseason American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He also competed at the 2016 and 2017 Nike Hoops Summit in Los Angeles.

AWARDS - AAC WEEKLY HONORS: Shake Milton has been named AAC Player of the week three times (Nov. 13, Dec. 4, Jan. 22). Jimmy Whitt (Dec. 18), Ben Emelogu (Dec. 26) and Jarrey Foster (Jan. 2) have each been named to the Weekly Honor Roll, and Ethan Chargois was the Rookie of the Week twice (Nov. 13, Dec. 18).

AWARDS - SENIOR CLASS AWARD: Senior Ben Emelogu II was named one of 30 candidates for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. This is the third straight year SMU has boasted a national service/character award nominee. In 2015-16, the Mustangs had two representatives in Nic Moore (Senior CLASS candidate) and Semi Ojeleye (NABC Good Works Team), while Jonathan Wilfong was a NABC Good Works Team nominee in 2016-17.

BALL MOVEMENT: SMU is averaging 16.5 assists (3rd AAC, 38th NCAA) with a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd, 21st NCAA). Shake Milton leads SMU at 4.6 (3rd AAC), followed by Jimmy Whitt at 3.6 (9th AAC).

CANADA - 2017 SUMMER TOUR: The team had an eight-day trip to Canada from August 7-14. The journey to Montreal and Toronto included three games (3-0) as well as visits to historic sites in both cities and an excursion to Niagara Falls. The trip started in Montreal, where the Mustangs played McGill University (W, 86-83 OT). The team also visited Mount Royal Park and St. Joseph's Oratory, Old Montreal historic district and took a boat ride in the rapids on the Saint Lawrence River. Then in Toronto, the Mustangs played a pair of exhibition games versus Ryerson University (W, 98-86) and M.A.D.E., the Nike Crown League Champion (W, 79-62). The team also went to the CN Tower and to the Rogers Centre for batting practice and the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The day between games in Toronto, the group took a trip to Niagara Falls.

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 AAC Player of the Year and All-American Nic Moore helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2015 World University Games in South Korea.

2017: Team International Tour to Canada (games in Montreal & Toronto)

2016: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Croatia): Jarrey Foster, Shake Milton

2015: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Emelogu II

NBA - DRAFT: SMU's Semi Ojeleye and Sterling Brown were selected in the 2017 NBA Draft. Ojeleye was selected 37th overall by the Boston Celtics and Brown was picked 46th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Milwaukee). This is the fourth time the Mustangs have had multiple picks in the NBA Draft, but the first time with multiple selections in the first two rounds. Ben Moore signed as a free agent with Indiana.

TOP 25: SMU was receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll as recently as Jan. 1. The Mustangs were also receiving votes in both preseason polls. SMU finished 2016-17 No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. SMU was in the AP top 25 for the final six weeks (after 4 weeks of receiving votes) and the final six coaches polls (after five straight weeks receiving votes). The Mustangs also received 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. - SMU is one of 14 teams that has been ranked in the AP top 20 each of the past 4 seasons (2013-17).

TROPHY CASE: Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs have added six items to the trophy case after adding the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. SMU has also won 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.