SMU Begins Four-Game Homestand Versus Lamar On Tuesday

Tuesday, November 27

Dallas, Texas

7 p.m.

SMU

Lamar

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Nov 25 | Men's Basketball, Tickets

SMU (3-3, 0-0 American) vs. Lamar (3-3, 0-0 Southland)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Nov. 27, 2018 – 7 pm CT
TV: ESPN3/WatchESPN | Radio: KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App | Live Stats
SMU Notes (PDF) | Lamar | American
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The SMU Mustangs begin a four-game homestand by hosting Lamar on Tuesday at 7 p.m. SMU enters the game 3-3 following a 77-76 win over Wright State in the Cancun Challenge. Jimmy Whitt Jr. hit the game-winner with 4.4 seconds left and Jahmal McMurray had a game-high 27 points to earn all-tournament honors as he finished the four-game event with a tournament record 98 points. Whitt had 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting, including the game-winner.

Preseason All-AAC selection Jahmal McMurray is leading the Mustangs in sc oring (19.2, 3rd AAC) and is hitting 43.6 percent from 3-point range (24-55). Sophomore Ethan Chargois is averaging 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. He already has his first two career double-doubles this season. Jimmy Whitt Jr. is third on the team at 14.2 points with a team-high 3.7 assists and team bests of 57.4 shooting percentage and a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Nat Dixon is adding 7.3 points and hitting a team-best 46.2 percent from three (12-26). Freshman Feron Hunt is second on the team at 6.5 rebounds to go with 6.8 points.

QUICK HITS:
• SMU is 59-24 under Tim Jankovich (.711), the best winning percentage in program history (50+ wins) & is 40-6 at Moody Coliseum
• SMU is 32-9 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich
• SMU is 3-1 this season when outrebounding opponents & 3-1 when scoring more in the paint
• Jahmal McMurray was named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team after setting an event record with 98 points in 4 games, including a career-high 34 points vs Southern Miss and 27 in the 77-76 win vs Wright State.
• Ethan Chargois had 3 games as a freshman with 8+ rebounds. He has at least 8 in 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.
• SMU is 51-21 in AAC play since start of 2014-15 (2nd-best in the league)

LAST GAME (W, 77-76 vs Wright State on Nov. 21): CANCUN, Mexico (AP) - Jimmy Whitt Jr. made a go-ahead baseline jumper with 4.4 seconds left, Jahmal McMurray hit a season-high seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points, setting a Cancun Challenge record, and SMU rallied past Wright State 77-76 on Wednesday night. SMU trailed for the majority of the game. After a SMU turnover, Loudon Love rebounded his own miss and put it back to give Wright State a 74-73 lead with 30.5 seconds left. Whitt answered with a drive to the baseline, spinning his defender and hitting a fade-away jumper to retake the lead. Mark Hughes was fouled going for a loose ball and made two free throws to give the lead back to Wright State with 10.7 seconds to go. But Whitt went coast-to-coast and sank a shot from about the same spot seconds earlier and Cole Gentry's runner wasn't close at the buzzer. McMurray set a tournament scoring record with 98 total points over his three games. He opened with 34 points by making 14 of 17 shots and added 18 in a second-round loss to Southern Miss. Whitt finished with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting for SMU (3-3). Love had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Wright State (3-3). The teams combined for just 11 free-throw attempts in the first 36 minutes and finished with 16.

THE SERIES VS. LAMAR (4-0): The Mustangs are 4-0 against Lamar, including a 3-0 record at Moody Coliseum. SMU won the most recent matchup 93-54 in Dallas during the Hoosier Showcase on Nov. 14, 2014.

LAST MEETING VS LAMAR: (W, 93-54 at SMU on Nov. 14, 2014): DALLAS (AP) -- Ben Moore scored a career-high 22 points and added a team-high nine rebounds with five assists to lead No. 22 SMU to a 93-54 victory over Lamar in the opener for both teams. Yanick Moreira added 19 for SMU, equaling his career high. Moreira was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field on the night. The Cardinals were led by Anthony Holliday with 12 points. Lamar was limited 31 percent shooting from the floor, 5-for-20 on three-pointers. Last season, SMU ranked seventh nationally in field-goal defense by holding opponents to 38.5 percent. SMU burst to a 15-5 lead before Lamar closed the gap to 20-14 midway through the half. A 3-pointer by Justin Martin then sparked the Mustangs to a 21-2 run over the next 6 1/2 minutes as SMU eased to a 46-20 lead at intermission. Moore's high game as a freshman last season was 19 last November against Arkansas. He played in all 37 games, but his start on Friday night equaled his total for last season. He sat out the final 6:35. Moreira, who joined the Mustangs last season after playing for two-year South Plains College, was limited to 23 appearances and 14 starts in 2013-14 because of a knee injury. The Mustangs were picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference behind defending national-champion Connecticut. The Cardinals were chosen to finish 10th in the Southland Conference. Friday's home opener was a sellout, giving the Mustangs sellouts in 10 of 14 games played at Moody Coliseum since the beginning of last season.

UP NEXT: SMU continues its four-game homestand with McNeese State on Thursday, Oral Roberts on Sunday and TCU on Dec. 5. The Mustangs then play a road game at Georgetown on Dec. 15 before finishing non-conference play at home vs Cornell on Dec. 22.

Ethan Chargois (6-9, 235, F, SO.): 2018-19: Had 22 points and 11 rebounds with 3 assists, a seal and a block vs Lipscomb 11/17... First career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) with 2 blocks, an assist and a steal in win vs Western Carolina 11/14... Career-high 25 points with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks vs Southern Miss 11/11... 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.): 2018-19: Had 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and a block vs Lipscomb 11/27.2018 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: Had 27 points (9-16 FG, 7-11 3FG, 2-2 FT) with 3 rebounds and 2 steals in the win vs Wright State 11/21...Career-high 34 points (14-17 FG, 5-7 3FG, 1-1 FT) with 2 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal in the win vs Western Carolina 11/14...HONORS: Preseason All-AAC Second Team...Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team (tournament-record 98 points in 4 games)... 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.): 2018-19 (Sophomore): Added 11 points (4-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 2-2 FT) with 2 assists and 2 steals vs Bradley 11/20...Had 10 points and 7 rebounds in the win vs Western Carolina 11/14...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.): 2018-19 (Junior): Had 18 points on 9-10 FGs, including the game-winner with 4.2 seconds left, in the 77-76 win vs Wright State 11/21 (also had 4 assists & 2 rebounds)...Had his first career double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) vs Bradley 11/20/18...Tied career high of 20 points (8-13 FG) with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal vs Lipscomb 11/17...Opened the season with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in the win vs Northwestern State 11/8... 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).

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 six 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 (74 games), the Mustangs played with:
- 6 available (4 times)
- 7 available (31 times)
- 8 available (9 times)
- 9 available (25 times)
- 10 available (5 times)

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 216-145 (.598) [59-24 at SMU (.711), 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)

ATTENDANCE: In 2017-18, SMU surpassed 100,000 in attendance for the fifth straight season. 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 7,518 was set in the 60-51 win against then No. 11/11 Cincinnati (Feb. 12, 2017). SMU has sold out 52 of 87 games in Moody Coliseum since the renovated facility opened Jan. 4, 2014.

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 32-9 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.

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)

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.

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

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:

- Preseason All-AAC
   Jahmal McMurray (Second Team - Oct. 15)
   Jarrey Foster (Second Team - Oct. 15)
   Jarrey Foster (Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook - Sept. 20)
- Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team
   Jahmal McMurray (tournament-record 98 points in 4 games)

COACHING FOR LITERACY (CoachingForLiteracy.org): This will be the fifth straight season SMU has hosted a CFL game (Jan. 2 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 and 2017-18. 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.