Cancun Challenge - Riviera Division Third Place Game
SMU (2-3, 0-0 American) vs. Wright State (3-2, 0-0 Horizon)
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya – Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Nov. 21, 2018 – 6 pm ET/5pm CT
TV: CBS Sports Network | Radio: KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App | Live Stats
SMU Notes (PDF) | Wright State | American
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The SMU Mustangs face Bradley in the Cancun Challenge semifinal on Tuesday, and will face Penn State or Wright State on Wednesday.

This is the fourth straight season the Mustangs have played in a neutral-site tournament. SMU won the 2015 Las Vegas Classic, reached the final of the 2016 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden and defeated then-No. 2 Arizona during the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Sophomore Ethan Chargois is averaging 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds (T-1st AAC). He had double-doubles in his last two games and has at least eight rebounds in all four contests this season. Jahmal McMurray is leading SMU in scoring at 17.3 while hitting 38.2 percent. Jimmy Whitt Jr. is the third Mustang in double-figure scoring at 13.8 while grabbing 5.8 rebounds and leading the team with 4.3 assists. Freshman Feron Hunt is averaging 7.5 points and ranks second on the team with 6.8 rebounds while hitting a team-best 63.6 percent on field goals. Grad-transfer Nat Dixon is adding 8.8 points with team bests of 2.3 steals and 47.4 percent from three.

QUICK HITS:
  •  SMU is 58-23 under Tim Jankovich (.716), the best winning percentage in program history (50+ wins) & is 40-6 at Moody Coliseum
  •  SMU is 31-8 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich
  •  Ethan Chargois had 3 games as a freshman with 8+ rebounds. He has at least 8 in all 4 games this season, including a pair of double-doubles.
  •  SMU had 5 wins over AP top 15 teams in the previous two seasons (T-14th in NCAA)
  •  SMU has won two of the past four American Athletic Conference Championships (2015 & 2017)
  •  SMU has had three players selected in the last two NBA Drafts (T-7th), and is one of only 14 programs with a draft pick each of the past two years
  •  Senior Jarrey Foster is the only returning player with more than one season at SMU
  •  SMU went 13-5 at home with a season attendance of 119,878, which is third in program history. This is the fifth straight season exceeding 100,000 in home attendance. 
  •  Jimmy Whitt finished 3rd in the AAC in steals, 1.8 (has 5 steals three times this season)
  •  SMU finished 3rd in the AAC and 12th nationally in scoring defense (64.1)
  •  SMU is 51-21 in AAC play since start of 2014-15 (2nd-best in the league)

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.
2018: Jimmy Whitt Jr. & Isiaha Mike went to Italy with USA East Coast. William Douglas, Ethan Chargois and Feron Hunt went to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands with Global Sports Academy.
2017: Team International Tour to Canada (games in Montreal & Toronto)
2016: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Croatia): Jarrey Foster, Shake Milton


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.

LAST GAME (L, 79-73 vs Lipscomb on Nov. 17): DALLAS (AP) -- Eli Pepper scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds and Lipscomb held on late to edge SMU 79-73 on Saturday night. Rob Marberry also had 16 points for the Bisons (3-1). Garrison Mathews had 15 points with seven rebounds and four assists and Matt Rose had 11 points and five rebounds. Lipscomb trailed 36-29 at the break but in the second half, two quick layups by Marberry and 3-pointers by Pepper and Kenny Cooper helped the Bisons pull within a point, 43-42, with 16:47 to play. Marberry, Rose and Pepper contributed to a 10-2 surge midway that gave Lipscomb the lead, 59-54, with 9:24 remaining. The Bisons never trailed after that although SMU kept it tight, closing to tie it 63-all with 5:42 left before Lipscomb pulled ahead again on a Rose layup and two Mathews free throws. Ethan Chargois scored 22 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Mustangs (2-2).

THE SERIES VS. BRADLEY (1-2): This is the fourth matchup between SMU and Bradley and the first since 1955. The first two matchups were split with a 45-33 victory on Dec. 28, 1939, and an 82-73 loss in the 1954-55 season. The most recent contest was an 81-79 loss in Manhattan, Kansas on March 11, 1955 during NCAA West Regional.

THE SERIES VS. PENN STATE (1-2): SMU is 1-2 against Penn State. The Mustangs lost the first two matchups 72-50 on Dec. 6, 1981, and 65-53 during the 1981-82 season. SMU won the most recent matchup 75-68 in Dallas at Reunion Arena on Dec. 18, 1982 during Dallas Morning News Classic.

WRIGHT STATE: Would be the first meeting.

UP NEXT: SMU then has a four-game homestand beginning with Lamar on Nov. 27 and concludes with TCU on Dec. 5.

JUST ONE: Jarrey Foster is the only scholarship member of the Mustangs that has played at SMU for more than one season. SMU is one of 12 teams with one or less entering a third season.
Chattanooga    0
Mount St. Mary's    1
N.C. A&T     1
CSU Bakersfield    1
Oregon    1
FAU    1
Idaho    1
Wichita State    1
Middle Tennessee    1
Cleveland State    1
UTA    1
Pittsburgh    1


SHORTHANDED: SMU had nine scholarship student-athletes available in the first four games. SMU played the last 11 games of 2017-18 with seven or less scholarship student-athletes available. Shake Milton missed the final 11 games (right hand), Jarrey Foster missed the last 14 games (left knee) and Everett Ray was out for the final 16 contests (right ankle, left foot). Ethan Chargois (right ankle) missed the game versus [6/6] Cincinnati on Feb. 11. With Milton, Foster and Chargois in the starting lineup, SMU went 13-5 including wins versus [2/4] Arizona, [14/18] USC, [-/rv] Boise State and at [7/4] Wichita State. Over the past two-plus seasons (71 games), the Mustangs played with:
- 6 available (4 times)
- 7 available (31 times)
- 8 available (9 times)
- 9 available (23 times)
- 10 available (5 times)

2017-18 IN REVIEW: The 2017-18 Mustangs started 13-6 with three wins over ranked opponents, topping No. 2 Arizona in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, No. 14 USC at Moody Coliseum and No. 7 Wichita State on the road. Shake Milton was named All-AAC Second Team, NABC All-District Second Team and USBWA All-District. Milton was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft and is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. During the season, Milton was on the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Lute Olson and Bob Cousy watch lists. Ethan Chargois was named to the AAC All-Rookie Team. Ben Emelogu led The American in 3-point percentage (.470). The Mustangs eventually finished 17-16 after leading scorers Jarrey Foster and Shake Milton missed February and March due to injuries.

NON-CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON UNDER JANKOVICH: SMU is 31-8 in regular-season non-conference games under Jankovich. SMU was 10-3 in non-conference action in 2016-17 after going 12-0 in non-conference play in 2015-16, including winning the Las Vegas Classic. 2018-19 ROSTER: The 2018-19 SMU roster includes seniors Jarrey Foster and Jahmal McMurray, who were selected preseason All-American Athletic Conference by the league's coaches. Foster averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season in 19 games before a season-ending injury (left ACL). In three seasons, SMU is 67-16 with Foster on the floor. McMurray averaged 14.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while hitting 40.8 percent on 3-pointers (62-152) in the final 22 games last season. SMU returns starters Jimmy Whitt Jr. and Ethan Chargois. Whitt averaged 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists (8th AAC) and 1.8 steals (3rd AAC) with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC). Chargois was on the AAC All-Rookie Team after averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds. Sophomore William Douglas played in all 33 games last season and Everett Ray played in 16 games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The Mustangs add experience in Isiaha Mike (sat out last season as a transfer) and Nat Dixon, a grad transfer from Chattanooga that averaged 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal. Freshmen Feron Hunt, Jahmar Young Jr. and CJ White made their collegiate debuts vs Northwestern State.

NBA DRAFT: Shake Milton was selected 54th in 2018 (picked by Dallas, then traded to Philadelphia)
- Second straight year SMU had a selection in the NBA Draft, best since 1985, 1986 & 1987.
- SMU is one of nine teams with an early entrant selected in back-to-back NBA Drafts: Semi Ojeleye in 2017. (Arizona, Creighton, Duke, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Kentucky, SMU, UCLA)
- SMU is one of 14 teams with a selection in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Drafts. (Arizona, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami (FL), Michigan, Oregon, Purdue, SMU, UCLA, Villanova)
- SMU is one of three schools with a selection in the first two rounds of the MLS, NFL and NBA drafts (Louisville, Maryland, SMU)
MLS – Michael Nelson – 1st Round 20th overall (Houston Dynamo)
MLS – Mauro Cichero – 2nd Round 29th overall (FC Dallas)
NFL – Courtland Sutton – 2nd Round 40th overall (Denver Broncos)
NBA – Shake Milton – 2nd Round 54th overall (Dallas Mavericks)

HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his third season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 36th season as a collegiate coach, and his 14th as a head coach. As a head coach, he is 215-144 (.599) [58-23 at SMU (.716), including 40-7 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. This is his 12th 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). 
     The 2017-18 Mustangs started 13-6 with three wins over ranked opponents, topping No. 2 Arizona in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, No. 14 USC at Moody Coliseum and No. 7 Wichita State on the road. 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. 
- 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)

SMU BASKETBALL - HONORS (Awards/Honors since 2013-14)
  •  NBA Draft Picks (Semi Ojeleye & Sterling Brown in '17, Shake Milton in '18)
  •  AAC Players of the Year (Nic Moore '15, '16; Semi Ojeleye '17)
  •  AP All-America Honorable Mention (Nic Moore '15, '16; Semi Ojeleye '17)
  •  Academic All-American (Semi Ojeleye '17)
  •  Wooden Award Watch List (Nic Moore '15, '16)
  •  Naismith Trophy Watch List (Nic Moore '15, '16; Shake Milton '18)
  •  Karl Malone Award Watch List (Markus Kennedy '16)
  •  Bob Cousy Award Watch List (Nic Moore '16; Shake Milton '18)
  •  Lute Olson Award Watch List (Nic Moore '15; Shake Milton '18)
  •  Jerry West Award Watch List (Shake Milton '17)
  •  Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List (Nic Moore '16)
  •  NABC All-District (Nic Moore '14, '15, '16; Markus Kennedy '14, '15; Yanick Moreira '15; Ben Moore '16; Semi Ojeleye '17; Shake Milton '17, '18)
  •  USBWA All-District (Nic Moore '14, '16; Semi Ojeleye '17; Shake Milton '18)
  •  NABC College All-Star (Sterling Brown '17; Ben Moore '17)
  •  All-AAC 1st Team (Nic Moore '14, '15, '16; Semi Ojeleye '17)
  •  All-AAC 2nd Team (Markus Kennedy '14, '15; Yanick Moreira '15; Sterling Brown '17; Ben Moore '17; Shake Milton '17, '18)
  •  AAC Sixth Man of the Year (Markus Kennedy '15, '16; Ben Emelogu II '17)
  •  NABC Good Works Team Nominee (Semi Ojeleye '16; Jonathan Wilfong '17)
  •  Senior CLASS Award Nominee (Nic Moore '16; Ben Emelogu II '18)


NBA - DRAFT: Shake Milton was selected in the second round (54th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft. He was picked by the Dallas Mavericks, then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers where he signed a two-way contract. 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 was the fourth time the Mustangs 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.

NBA DRAFT PICKS - LAST 2 YEARS
1. Duke - 8
2. Kentucky - 7
3. Villanova - 5
UCLA - 5
5. Oregon - 4
Kansas - 4
7. SMU - 3
Arizona - 3
Miami - 3

Ethan Chargois (6-9, 235, F, SO.): Summer 2018: Played on a Global Sports Academy U.S. team in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany alongside SMU teammate William Douglas, going 6-0… 2017-18: AAC All-Rookie…Played in 31 games, started 24... Averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Nat Dixon (6-4, 180, G, SR.): 2017-18 (at UT Chattanooga): Made 31 appearances with 30 starts... Averaged 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals.

William Douglas (6-5, 180, G, SO.): Summer 2018: Played on a Global Sports Academy U.S. team in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany alongside SMU teammate Ethan Chargois, going 6-0... 2017-18: Played in 33 games... Averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Jarrey Foster (6-6, 220, G, Jr.): 2018-19: Preseason All-AAC Second Team... 2017-18: Played and started 19 games… Averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game (11th AAC).

Feron Hunt (6-8, 190, F, Fr.): 2018 Summer: Played on a Global Sports Academy U.S. team for the tour in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany... His team went 6-0 on the tour... PREP: He played AAU for Urban DFW... He was rated as high as the No. 28 shooting guard and No. 12 overall in Texas.


Jahmal McMurray (6-0, 175, G, Sr.): 2018-19: Preseason All-AAC Second Team... 2017-18: Played in 22 games, 14 starts... Averaged 14.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while hitting 40.8 3FG% (62-152)... Scored a career-high 33 points (12-25 FG, 9-19 3FG) on an SMU-record 9 threes, with 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal in 40 minutes against Memphis 2/14.

Isiaha Mike (6-8, 200, F, So.): 2018 Summer: Played for USA East Coast on a basketball trip to Italy August 3-9 alongside SMU teammate Jimmy Whitt Jr. ... 2017-18: Sat out after transferring from Duquesne... 2017 Summer Tour (Canada): 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...Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.

James Pyle (6-3, 175, G, JR.): 2017-18: Played in 20 games... Scored 2 points against Northwestern State... AAC All-Academic Team & NABC Honors Court.
 
Everett Ray (6-7, 220, F, SO.): 2017-18: Played in 16 games... Missed last 14 games of 2017-18 with a right foot injury… 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. 

CJ White (6-5, 185, G, FR.): Prep: As a senior, he helped lead Parkview HS to the 5A State Championship, earning State Tournament MVP and First Team All-State honors… Averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals while hitting 40 percent from 3-point range during his final prep season.

Jimmy Whitt Jr. (6-3, 175, G, JR.): 2018 Summer: Played for USA East Coast on a basketball trip to Italy... The team went 2-2 on the four-game trip, falling to the U-25 national teams from Italy and Germany while topping the U-25 "A" and "B" squads from the Netherlands... He played alongside SMU teammate Isiaha Mike...2017-18: Played and started all 33 games… Averaged 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds (17th AAC), 3.5 assists (8th AAC) and 1.8 steals (3rd AAC)... 48.8 FG% (140-287, 14th AAC)... 2.1 assist/turnover ratio (3rd AAC).

Luke Wilfong (6-1, 170, G, SO.): 2017-18: Played in 12 games... Scored a 3-pointer against USF. 

Jahmar Young Jr. (6-9, 205, F, Fr.): Prep: Power forward at DeSoto High School... played AAU for Urban DFW Elite... The three-star signee was rated as high as No. 14 in Texas.

Grant Youngkin (6-3, 190, G, JR.): 2018-19: Sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules (from Rice).