By Andy Lohman

Expect the McMurrays to fill up Moody Coliseum for SMU men's basketball's Senior Day on Sunday, March 3.

"Yeah it'll probably be a lot of people," senior guard Jahmal McMurray said before practice Friday afternoon. "My mom, my dad, my cousins, uncles, friends, family of friends. It's going to be a packed house like the Wichita State game [on the road]."

McMurray, a Topeka, Kansas native, is one of four senior players that will be honored before the Mustangs' game against Wichita State Sunday, joining Jarrey Foster, Nat Dixon and James Pyle. Senior managers Connor Kolodziej, Rakan Musmar, Sean Gowdy and Robert Meszaros will also be recognized for their contributions to the program.

Sharing the moment, the last regular season game of their careers inside Moody, with their families makes the day that much more special.

"This whole night is for my family and my friends," Foster said. "Seeing the smile on their face is what's going to bring joy to me."

"It definitely means a lot to me," Pyle said. "Especially because my grandparents will be there. They've never seen me in college, just because it's tough for them to get around. It'll be cool for them to be here. I'm super happy to have all my family come down and support me."

The pregame ceremony will also give SMU fans one last opportunity to salute the senior class for the memories they've provided on the court. Foster and Pyle were both members of the squad that won the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and played in the NCAA Tournament.

While Foster's numbers paint the picture of a well-rounded player (8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game in his career), the Preseason All-ACC Second Team selection's impact on the Mustangs goes well beyond a box score. His experience and basketball IQ elevated SMU's level of defensive play significantly when he returned from injury in the fall. For all the impressive statistics that show what a special player Foster is, there is one that sums it up the best: SMU holds a record of 75-19 in games in which Foster plays, including 51-4 at Moody Coliseum.

"I just want to make sure I left a legacy of doing the right things, playing the right way and being a leader," Foster said. "As long as I can pass that down to my young guys, they're going to win at life."

In just a year and a half in an SMU uniform, McMurray has proven to be an electric scorer. After transferring from USF, the shooting guard has averaged 16.5 points per game. Just this season, McMurray has scored in double digits in 22 out of 26 games, including 10 games of 20+ points. Not only a prolific three-point shooter (his 86 threes this season are the second most in a single season in SMU history), he also has the quickness to create his own mid-range jumpers and drive and finish at the basket.

What SMU fans may remember the most about McMurray is his competitive spirit; he never backed down from a challenge, often releasing fiery screams after hitting big shots.

"I just want to be remembered as a guy who gave it his all," McMurray said. "I want to let people know that I'm really passionate. I just love this game of basketball, man."

A grad transfer from Chattanooga, Dixon had just one year at SMU, but still made his mark. A former wide receiver at Boston College, Dixon flies around the court for loose balls. He regularly appears on the team's hustle play highlight tape and often provides a spark off the bench. In the win at Georgetown on Dec. 15, his 11 points off the bench gave SMU the boost it needed to get past the Hoyas. After a season of football and before going to Chattanooga, he transferred to East Mississippi Community College (made famous by Netflix' Last Chance U) because he knew he wanted to play basketball.

"I feel like this is just the grand finale because of everywhere I've been and all the different stops," Dixon said. "This place definitely feels like home and I wouldn't want to end it anywhere else."

Pyle may be a walk-on with 58 career minutes played, but talk to anybody within the SMU basketball program and they'll tell you that Pyle is absolutely a Division I basketball player. On a short-handed team, he has played a crucial role challenging the Mustangs' starters every day in practice. After trying out and walking on his sophomore year, Pyle played on a team that cut down the nets as AAC champions.

"I drove down to school in August looking forward to business classes," Pyle said. "I drove back a conference champion."

The on-court successes, especially playing in the NCAA Tournament for Foster and Pyle, are memorable, but every senior pointed to the relationships they made during their time on the Hilltop as something they'll remember as they transition to the next part of their lives.

"I've made friendships that I'm going to have for a lifetime," Dixon said.

"There's so many good people around here. I'm just thankful to be put in this position," McMurray said. "All the laughter and all the love and all the genuine care we give to each other. Those are the types of things I'm going to miss."

"Being around great guys, being around great coaches," Foster said. "I'm glad, although it went fast, I'm happy I chose this university and had the time that I did."