SMU (5-0, 1-0 American) at Temple (1-1, 0-1 American)
Liacouras Center – Philadelphia, Pa.
December 30, 2020 – 1 p.m. CT
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SMU visits Temple for its first road game in the American Athletic Conference this season. The Mustangs are 5-0 on the season after opening league play at home with a 70-55 win over ECU on Dec. 16. SMU won its only previous road trip this season, 66-64, on a buzzer-beater at Dayton on Dec. 5.

SMU is receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll for the fourth straight week. The Mustangs have now been ranked or receiving votes in seven of the past eight seasons.

In the 70-55 win vs ECU, Kendric Davis had game highs of 17 points and six assists with just one turnover. Feron Hunt had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Darius McNeill tied his season high with 13 points off the bench and Yor Anei added three blocked shots in his SMU debut. 

SMU started 8-0 last season and has started at least 5-0 in back-to-back seasons for the third time in program history. The most recent had been  1984-85 (9-0) and 1985-86 (6-0) with the other in 1933-34 (5-0) and 1934-35 (5-0).

AAC LEADERS: SMU leads the AAC in scoring (85.2, 30th NCAA), scoring margin (+22.2, 16th NCAA), FT% (80.0, 10th NCAA), FG% (47.5), 3FG% (37.9, 51st NCAA), assists (18.6, 23rd NCAA) and 3FGs (8.8). The Mustangs are second in rebound defense (31.8), rebound margin (+9.6, 33rd NCAA), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3) and turnovers forced (17.2).

BALANCE: The Mustangs have four players averaging double figures in scoring: Kendric Davis (20.4, 2nd AAC), Ethan Chargois (13.0, 11th AAC), Emmanuel Bandoumel (12.8, 12th AAC) and Feron Hunt (12.8, 12th AAC),.

QUICK HITS:
• Kendric Davis was named the AAC Player of the Week and ESPN National POTW on Dec. 7. He was on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 30 and Dec. 21. In 2019-20, four different Mustangs earned 10 spots on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll; Tyson Jolly (Nov. 11, Jan. 20), Isiaha Mike (Nov. 18, Dec. 23), Feron Hunt (Nov. 25, Dec. 30, Feb. 17), Kendric Davis (Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 27).

• Five Mustangs have already scored at least 15 points in a game: Kendric Davis (4), Feron Hunt (2), Emmanuel Bandoumel (2), Ethan Chargois (1) and William Douglas (1). Last season, the Mustangs had seven players that scored at least 15 points in a game (five returnees): Tyson Jolly (18x), Kendric Davis (13x), Feron Hunt (9x), Isiaha Mike (9x), Ethan Chargois (3x), CJ White (2x) and Emmanuel Bandoumel. Jolly (6), Mike (6), Davis (5) and Hunt (2) had 20-point games.  

• SMU has held 4 of 5 opponents under 40%. SMU is 57-6 under Tim Jankovich (4-0 this season), when holding opponents at or below 40%.  

• The Mustangs have outrebounded 4 of 5 opponents this season (4-0). Under Tim Jankovich, SMU is 73-17 when having an advantage on the glass. The rebound margin is +9.6 (2nd AAC, 33rd NCAA) with a +10 or better advantage 3 games.  

• SMU is leading the AAC and 10th nationally in FT% at 80.0% (84-105). Three are in the top 15 of the AAC: Kendric Davis (95.2%, 20-21, 1st AAC, 18th NCAA), Feron Hunt (85.7%, 12-14, 3rd AAC) and Ethan Chargois (75.9%, 22-29, 14th AAC) with Emmanuel Bandoumel (75.0%, 15-20) just outside the top 15. Last season, SMU led the AAC and ranked 25th nationally at 76.2% on free throws. SMU's top four scorers were all 74% or better: Kendric Davis (85.4%, 2nd AAC), Isiaha Mike (80.5%, 4th AAC), Tyson Jolly (78.0%, 14th AAC) and Feron Hunt (74.3%). Emmanuel Bandoumel also hit 77.3%. 

• The Mustangs have had at least four scoring in double figures in three games this season (3-0) with five in double figures twice (2-0). Under Tim Jankovich, SMU is 65-14 when at least four score 10+.

• Kendric Davis (2020-21 Preseason All-AAC First Team, ESPN Player of the Week [D7], AAC Player of the Week [D7], AAC Weekly Honor Roll [N30, D21]) is averaging 20.4 points (2nd AAC, 37th NCAA) and 7.6 assists (1st AAC, 7th NCAA), 2.2 steals (1st AAC, 59th NCAA) with a 4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 18th NCAA). He also among the league leaders in FG% (50.7, 12th), 3FG% (50.0, 3rd) and FT% (95.2, 1st, 18th NCAA). He has 5 or more assists in 25 of 31 games as a Mustang (4 of 5 this season). In 2019-20, he averaged 14.2 points (8th AAC) and an AAC-best 6.7 assists (10th NCAA) with 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He was 88-103 on FTs (85.4%, 2nd AAC). His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 led the AAC and ranked 19th nationally.

• Feron Hunt is averaging 12.8 points (12th AAC), 7.6 rebounds (5th AAC) and 1.4 blocks (4th AAC) while shooting 59.5% from the field (4th AAC, 55th NCAA) and 85.7% on FTs (3rd AAC). He has seven career double-doubles (two this season) and has 7 or more rebounds in 37 career games (4 of 5 this season).

• Ethan Chargois is averaging career highs of 13.0 points (11th AAC, 12.4 in 2018-19) and has been in double figures in 4 of 5 games. He is also averaging a career-high 7.4 rebounds (6th AAC, 6.2 in 2018-19), 1.6 steals (6th AAC) and 2.8 assists with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. He has 939 career points (SMU has 41 1000-point scorers).

• Emmanuel Bandoumel is averaging 12.8 points (12th AAC) and shooting 39.1% from three (15th AAC) and 75.0% on FTs. He had a career-high 19 points, including the buzzer-beating game winner for a 66-64 victory at Dayton on Dec. 5.

• Three Mustangs have double-doubles already this season: Kendric Davis (2), Feron Hunt (2) and Ethan Chargois. Five Mustangs recorded double-doubles last season (four returnees). Isiaha Mike (5), Tyson Jolly (5), Feron Hunt (4), Kendric Davis (3) and Ethan Chargois. Six times, two Mustangs had a double-double in the same game (4-2). That was the first time SMU has had at least five guys record a double-double since 2016-17. The SMU record is 7 different players in 1978-79. Six players accomplished it in 1977-78 and 1997-98.

• SMU is 95-49 under Tim Jankovich and 67-15 at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs are 19-2 in the past 21 games at Moody Coliseum (4-0 this season).

• SMU is 67-42 in AAC play since start of 2014-15. The Mustangs are 42-13 at Moody Coliseum.

• SMU received a vote in the Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21, Dec. 28 AP Top 25 Polls. The Mustangs also received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll both weeks. The Mustangs have been ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll in seven of the past eight seasons (2013-14 to 2020-21). 

• SMU has 7 wins against AP Top 25 teams under Tim Jankovich (17 games). That is second at SMU. Doc Hayes had 13 from 1947-67.

• The Mustangs have had 15 All-American Athletic Conference honorees, the highest in the AAC, in the first seven seasons of the league. That includes four first-team selections.

PRESEASON ALL-AAC: Kendric Davis (first team) and Tyson Jolly (second team) were selected to preseason All-AAC teams. The Mustangs were picked to finish third in the conference race behind Houston and Memphis. Davis was an All-AAC Third-Team honoree last season after leading the league with 6.7 assists (10th NCAA) and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (19th NCAA). He was second for SMU in scoring at 14.2 points (8th AAC) while also averaging 4.1 rebounds. He shot 44.9% overall (12th AAC) and 85.4% on free throws (2nd AAC). Jolly was also All-AAC Third-Team last season after leading SMU in scoring at 14.5 points (7th AAC). He was third for SMU at 6.2 rebounds (13th AAC) and second with 2.3 assists per game. He shot 38.2% from three (7th AAC) and 78.0% at the free-throw line (14th AAC). 

2019-20 SMU IN THE AAC: The Mustangs finished the shortened 2019-20 season with a 19-11 overall record. SMU went 15-2 at Moody Coliseum, winning eight of nine home games in league play. Last season, SMU led the American Athletic Conference in scoring (72.9), field goal percentage (45.1%), free-throw percentage (76.2%, 25th NCAA), assists (15.6, 19th NCAA) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). The Mustangs had four of the top 25 scorers in the AAC; Tyson Jolly (14.5, 7th), Kendric Davis (14.2, 8th), Isiaha Mike (14.0, 10th) and Feron Hunt (11.0, 25th AAC). Davis also led the league in assists (6.7, 10th NCAA) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7, 19th NCAA). Davis was second in the league in free-throw percentage at 85.4% with Mike behind him at 80.5% (4th AAC) and Jolly at 78.0% (14th AAC). From the floor, Hunt ranked third in the AAC hitting 55.7% with Mike 8th (48.1%), Jolly 11th (45.8%) and Davis 12th (44.9%). From 3-point range, Tyson Jolly was 38.2% (7th AAC) and Isiaha Mike 37.7% (9th AAC). SMU finished third in the AAC in rebound margin (4.2) with three players in the top 15 (Hunt 6.7, 8th; Mike 6.3, 9th; Jolly 6.2, 13th). 

LAST GAME (W, 70-55 VS ECU on Dec. 16): DALLAS (AP) - Feron Hunt recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds to lift SMU to a 70-55 win over East Carolina in a clash of unbeatens on Wednesday night. It was the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Kendric Davis had 17 points and six assists for SMU (5-0, 1-0). Darius McNeill added 13 points. Ethan Chargois had nine rebounds. Leading 30-28 at halftime, SMU opened the second half on a 17-6 run over nearly nine minutes to take control. Jayden Gardner had 13 points for the Pirates (5-1, 0-1). Bitumba Baruti added 11 points.

SERIES VS. TEMPLE (7-7) (6-7+): The two split last season, with SMU winning at home Jan. 18 and losing at Temple Feb. 8 in overtime. They were set to meet in the first round of The American Championship before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Mustangs have lost a single meeting to Temple each in 2017-18 and 2018-19 after sweeping the Owls in 2016-17. During the 2014-15 season, SMU swept  hree matchups with the Owls, including a 69-56 win on March 14, 2015 at The American Tournament. Prior to the AAC, they last met when Temple defeated SMU 90-81 in the third place game of the NCAA tournament on March 23, 1956. The first game in the series came Jan. 7, 1938 when Temple won 53-41 at home. (+6-7 officially)

LAST SEASON VS TEMPLE: (W, 68-52 vs. Temple on Jan. 18): DALLAS (AP) -- Tyson Jolly had a career-high 25 points plus a career-high 14 rebounds as SMU topped Temple 68-52. Isiaha Mike had 12 points and 10 rebounds for SMU (13-4, 3-2). Kendric Davis added 10 points and nine assists. Feron Hunt had 10 points and eight rebounds. Temple totaled 25 second-half points, a season low for the team. Jake Forrester had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Owls (10-7, 2-4). Nate Pierre-Louis added 12 points and six rebounds. Quinton Rose had 10 points. (L, 97-90 OT at Temple on Feb. 8): PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Quinton Rose scored 10 of his 25 points in overtime, and Temple rallied past SMU 97-90. With the game tied at 80 after regulation, Rose opened the extra period with a jump shot, then answered every SMU basket until canning a 3-pointer that put Temple ahead for keeps at 89-85 halfway through. Kendric Davis (23 points and 10 assists) converted a threepoint play that brought SMU to 91-90 with 42 seconds left but Alani Moore II, Monty Scott, Nate Pierre-Louis and Rose were 6-of-8 at the line the rest of the way. Scott finished with 22 points and six assists for Temple (12-11, 4-7), Moore added 14 points and five assists. Jake Forrester scored 11 for the Owls, who shot 59% from the field (35-for-59) with a season-high 24 assists and 40 points off the bench. The Owls trailed by 17 at halftime but shot 68% after the break, including 6-for-7 from distance, to catch up. SMU's Tyson Jolly, who scored 13 points and was 7-for-7 at the line, hit three free throws to even the score at 80 and send the game to overtime. Isiaha Mike added 13 points and seven rebounds for SMU (16-6, 6-4).

RETURN TO SENDER: Yor Anei had 3 blocks in his SMU debut, a 70-55 win over ECU on Dec. 16. He is averaging 2.28 blocks for his career, which is 7th among active student-athletes. He has had multiple blocks in 37 of 65 career games, with the ECU game as his 23rd contest with at least 3 rejections. 

BUZZER-BEATING BANDOUMEL: Emmanuel Bandoumel hit a driving jumper with 0.2 on the clock for the 66-64 win at [-/rv] Dayton on Dec. 5. It was his second game winner. He hit a three with 30 seconds left in overtime for a 73-72 victory over [20/19] Houston on Feb. 15, 2020.

HUNTING FOR REBOUNDS: Feron Hunt is averaging 7.6 rebounds (5th AAC) and has at least 7 rebounds in each 4 of 5 games this season. He has 7 or more rebounds in 37 of 67 career games. He has led the team 23 times in his career (3x this season after 10 each previous year). In 2019-20, Feron Hunt posted 6.7 rebounds (8th AAC) with 2.0 offensive rebounds (13th AAC). He had a season-high 13 rebounds vs New Orleans. Hunt shared the team lead in rebounding at 6.4 per game as a freshman. He was just the sixth Mustang to lead the team as a freshman.

HUNT FOR THE TARGET: Feron Hunt has shot 55.9% for his career. He is at 59.5% so far this season (4th AAC, 55th NCAA) after 55.4% as a freshman and 55.7% as a sophomore.

MOSTLY FREE: SMU is 84-105 on FTs (80.0%) so far this season (1st AAC, 10th NCAA). Three are in the top 15 of the AAC: Kendric Davis (95.2%, 20-21, 1st AAC, 18th NCAA), Feron Hunt (85.7%, 12-14, 3rd AAC) and Ethan Chargois (75.9%, 22-29, 14th AAC) with Emmanuel Bandoumel (75.0%, 15-20) just outside the top 15. In 2019-20, SMU hit 76.2% (1st AAC, 25th NCAA). Kendric Davis led SMU (85.4%, 2nd AAC) with Isiaha Mike at 80.5% (4th AAC), Tyson Jolly 78.0% (14th AAC) and Feron Hunt 74.3%. 
SMU Season Free throw percentage
—-    .800    2020-21 (1st AAC, 10th NCAA)
1.    .769    1961-62
2.    .768    1970-71
3.    .762    2019-20
4.    .761    1955-56
5.    .759    1965-66
6.    .746    1979-80

FIVE AND DIME: Kendric Davis is averaging 7.6 assists (1st AAC, 7th NCAA). He has 5 or more assists in 25 of 31 games at SMU (4 of 5 this season). He has tied the AAC record of 13 assists twice (vs Houston Baptist 12/2/20 & vs Tulane on 2/1/20). He had a streak of 5 or more assists in 14 straight games (11/27/19 to 1/25/20). That was the longest streak of games with at least 5 assists since the SMU record of 16 in a row by Butch Moore from 3/14/85 to 1/8/86. Davis' average of 6.7 assists led the AAC (10th NCAA). It tied for sixth in a season at SMU, and the most since Gerald Lewis (6.7) in 1992-93. Davis also had a league-best 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (19th NCAA).
13 Assists / 0 Turnovers: In the game vs HBU 12/2/20, he had 13 assists with 0 turnovers (in addition to 20 points and 6 steals). That was the 19th time since 2010 a Division I player had at least 13 assists with no turnovers. Davis was one of only three to also score 20 points and his 6 steals were the most in any of those games. (via Sports Reference)

2020-21 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
- Preseason
     Kendric Davis (All-AAC First Team)
     Tyson Jolly (All-AAC Second Team)
     Kendric Davis (All-AAC First Team by Jon Rothstein)
     Darius McNeill (Top 10 Impact Transfers by Jon Rothstein)
- American Athletic Conference Player of the Week
     Kendric Davis (D7) - 17.3 pts, 9.0 asts, 4.0 rebs, 3.3 sts in 3-0 week (A&M-CC, Houston Baptist, at Dayton)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     Kendric Davis (N30) - 33 points, 11-15 FG. 5 assists, 4 rebounds in opening win vs Sam Houston State
     Kendric Davis (D21) - 17 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steals, 1 turnover in win vs ECU
- Jeff Brozello's ESPN National Player of the Week
     Kendric Davis (D7) - 17.3 pts, 9.0 asts, 4.0 rebs, 3.3 sts in 3-0 week (A&M-CC, Houston Baptist, at Dayton)

HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his fifth season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 38th season as a collegiate coach, and his 16th as a head coach. As a head coach, he is 252-170 (.597) [95-49 at SMU (.660), including 67-15 (.817) 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)

CALL IT A COMEBACK: SMU has rallied from a 10-plus point deficit to win 11 times under Tim Jankovich. That includes a pair of 15-point comeback wins.
Deficit    Time    Opponent    Final 
15 (42-27)    0:01 1st    Tulane (2/15/17) (T-7)    80-75
15 (72-57)    4:05 2nd    at Vanderbilt (1/4/20) (T-7)      92-81 ot
13 (24-11)    8:08 1st    at Houston (2/18/17)    76-66
12 (22-10)    12:07 1st    at TCU (12/2/15)    75-70
12 (68-56)    7:08 2nd    at [20/20] Memphis (1/25/20)    74-70
11 (23-12)    6:03 1st    Temple (1/18/20)    68-52
10 (46-36)    17:37 2nd    [rv/-] Yale (11/22/15)    71-69
10 (40-30)    2:49 1st    UMBC (11/10/17)    78-67
10 (15-5)    14:33 1st    vs [2/4] Arizona (11/23/17)    66-60
10 (23-13)    8:53 1st    vs Wright State (11/21/18)    77-76
10 (42-32)    16:12 2nd    at Dayton (12/5/20)    66-64

TROPHY CASE: Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs have added seven items to the trophy case. SMU won the 2014-15 and 2016-17 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. SMU has also won 2019-20 Southwestern Showdown and the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic. In 2013-14, SMU was the runner-up in the NIT.