SMU (6-1, 2-1 American) vs Cincinnati (2-6, 0-3 American)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
January 7, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT
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SMU hosts Cincinnati on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Mustangs enter the game 6-1 on the season and 2-1 in the American Athletic Conference. 

The first loss for the Mustangs came to then-No. 5 Houston, 74-60, at Moody Coliseum on Sunday. The Mustangs are 4-1 at home this season and 19-3 in the past 22 games at Moody Coliseum. 

SMU is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the fifth straight week. The Mustangs have been ranked or receiving votes in seven of the past eight seasons.

In the loss to Houston, Kendric Davis had 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Feron Hunt had 12 points and 12 rebounds with 3 blocked shots, recording his third double-double of the season. Davis' matched the high by a UH opponent this season and Hunt's rebounds and blocks were the most by a Houston opponent this season. SMU totaled 8 blocked shots in the game, setting a season high for the third straight game. SMU held Houston to 39.6% shooting,and has held 6 of 7 opponents this season under 40%.

SMU started 6-0 this season after starting 8-0 last season, reaching at least 6-0 in back-to-back seasons for the second time in program history. The other was 1984-85 (9-0) and 1985-86 (6-0).

AAC LEADERS: SMU leads the AAC in scoring (80.7), FG% (47.1) and 3FGs (8.3). The Mustangs are second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), scoring margin (+15.0, 34th NCAA), 3FG% (36.9) and assists (17.3, 35th NCAA).

BALANCE: SMU nearly has five averaging double figures: Kendric Davis 19.7 (1st AAC), Feron Hunt 12.0 (15th), Emmanuel Bandoumel 11.3 (20th), Ethan Chargois 11.3 (20th), Darius McNeill 9.5.

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, Dec. 21 and Jan. 4. 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).

• Six Mustangs have already scored at least 15 points in a game: Kendric Davis (5), Feron Hunt (2), Emmanuel Bandoumel (2), Ethan Chargois (1), William Douglas (1) and Darius McNeill (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 6 of 7 opponents under 40%. SMU is 58-7 under Tim Jankovich (5-1 this season), when holding opponents at or below 40%. SMU is third in the AAC in FG% defense (.381).

• The Mustangs have outrebounded 4 of 7 opponents this season, all at home (4-0). Under Tim Jankovich, SMU is 73-17 when having an advantage on the glass. The rebound margin is +4.3 (4th AAC) with a +10 or better advantage 3 games.  

• The Mustangs have had at least four scoring in double figures in four games this season (4-0) with five in double figures twice (2-0). Under Tim Jankovich, SMU is 66-14 when at least four score 10+.

• Yor Anei is averaging 6.3 points and 3.0 blocks in his first 3 games as a Mustang.

• Emmanuel Bandoumel is averaging 11.3 points (20th AAC) and 2.3 assists while shooting 34.3% from three and 79.2% on FTs (11th AAC). He had a career-high 19 points, including the buzzer-beating game winner for a 66-64 victory at Dayton on Dec. 5.

• 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, J4]) is averaging 19.7 points (1st AAC, 53rd NCAA) and 6.7 assists (1st AAC, 16th NCAA), 1.7 steals (4th AAC) with a 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 22nd NCAA). He also among the league leaders in FG% (54.3, 6th), 3FG% (50.0, 1st) and FT% (83.9, 5th AAC). He has 5 or more assists in 26 of 33 games as a Mustang (5 of 7 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.

• Ethan Chargois is averaging 11.3 points (20th AAC, career high 12.4 in 2018-19) and has been in double figures in 5 of 7 games. He is averaging career highs of 7.1 rebounds (9th AAC, 6.2 in 2018-19), 1.4 steals (10th AAC, 0.9 in 2018-19) and 3.1 assists (14th AAC, 1.9 in 2018-19) with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th). He has 953 career points (SMU has 41 1000-point scorers).

• Feron Hunt is averaging 12.0 points (15th AAC), 8.1 rebounds (9th AAC) and 1.6 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 55.7% from the field (4th AAC). He has eight career double-doubles (three this season) and has 7 or more rebounds in 39 career games (6 of 7 this season).

• Charles Smith IV is tied for the lead in the AAC in 3FG% (50.0%, 11-22) while averaging 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds.

• Tyson Jolly (2020-21 Preseason All-AAC Second Team, 2019-20 All-AAC Third Team): Has not played this season (personal reasons). Last season, averaged 14.5 points (7th AAC) and 6.2 rebounds (13th AAC) while shooting 45.8% overall (11th AAC) and 38.2% from three (7th AAC). He had 15+ points in 18 of 30 games and 20+ on six occasions. He also hit 78.0% on FTs (14th AAC), including a 10-10 performance in the 73-72 OT win over [20-19] Houston on Feb. 15.

• Three Mustangs have double-doubles already this season: Feron Hunt (3), Kendric Davis (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 96-50 under Tim Jankovich and 67-16 at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs are 19-3 in the past 22 games at Moody Coliseum (4-1 this season).

• SMU is 51-12 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich. The Mustangs are 41-4 at Moody Coliseum in those games, 3-4 in neutral-site games and 7-4 in true road games. 

• SMU is 68-43 in AAC play since start of 2014-15. The Mustangs are 42-14 at Moody Coliseum.

• SMU received a vote in four straight AP Top 25 Polls beginning Dec. 7. The Mustangs have also received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll the past 5 weeks (beginning Dec. 7). The Mustangs have been ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll in seven of the past eight seasons (2013-14 to 2020-21). 

RECORDS/LAST TIME
•  102 points in 102-75 win vs A&M-CC 11/30, most since 103 vs Memphis 3/4/2017 (W, 103-62)
•  39 bench points in the 79-71 win at Temple on Dec. 30, most bench points since 1-19-2014 vs Hofstra
•  37 point margin of victory vs A&M-CC 11/30, largest since USF 12/31/2017 (W, 79-39)
•  26 assists in 91-54 win vs A&M-CC 11/30, most since 26 vs. Eastern Michigan 11/13/2016 (W, 91-64)
•  17 steals vs Houston Baptist 12/2, 3rd SMU history, most since 19 vs Ark.-Pine Bluff 12/20/2004 (W, 87-50)
•  8 blocked shots vs [5/5] Houston were the most since 10 vs [23/22] Cincinnati 2/27/2019 (L, 52-49)

LAST GAME (L, 74-60 vs No. 5/5 Houston on Jan. 3): DALLAS (AP) -- Quentin Grimes hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to ignite a 10-0 run to start the second half for No. 5 Houston and the Cougars rebounded from their first loss with a 74-60 victory over previously undefeated SMU on Sunday night. That 3-pointer by Grimes from the top of the key to put Houston (8-1, 3-1 American) ahead to stay on the first shot after halftime and Justin Gorham then made a 3. Grimes also had a layup and two free throws in that game-turning run in just over 2 1/2 minutes. Marcus Sasser led Houston with 17 points, and Gorham had 11 points and 19 rebounds. DeJon Jarreau scored 15 points. Kendric Davis led SMU (6-1, 2-1) with 23 points. Feron Hunt had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Ethan Chargois scored 10 points. Grimes, Houston.s leading scorer at 18.5 points a game and second in the AAC only to Davis. 19.2 coming in, finished with 11 points. He was scoreless with only one shot before halftime, when he played only eight minutes after two early fouls. The Mustangs had the largest lead of the first half when Chargois followed his missed 3-pointer that would have snapped a tie with assists on consecutive impressive baskets that made it 30-25 with 2:39 left in the first half, though they led by only one at the break. Hunt rebounded the missed 3 and got the ball back to Chargois at the top of the key, for his quick pass to Davis for a tiebreaking 3. Chargois then had a steal, but instead of going all the way to score on the breakaway, he did an underhand scoop to bank the ball off the backboard to Hunt for an emphatic dunk.

THE SERIES VS. CINCINNATI (5-14) (4-14+): UC has won seven straight matchups in the past three seasons since SMU won 2-of-3 meetings during the 2016-17 season, including a 71-56 win on March 12, 2017 to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament and earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Since becoming conference foes, Cincinnati holds an 8-3 record over the Mustangs. Prior to the AAC, the series had been dormant since 1974-75. SMU won the only previous neutral site encounter in 1966, an NCAA Midwest Regional contest in Lubbock, Texas.

LAST SEASON VS. CINCINNATI (L, 65-43 at Cincinnati on Jan. 28): CINCINNATI (AP) -- Jarron Cumberland scored a season-high 28 points, and Cincinnati led the whole way during a 65-43 victory over SMU. The Bearcats (13-7, 6-2) have won five of six with Cumberland leading the way. He had 15 points in the first half, when Cincinnati led by as many as 17 points. Cumberland finished 9 of 13 from the field, and had team highs with nine rebounds and four assists. SMU (15- 5, 5-3) had a three-game winning streak snapped. Tyson Jolly had 16 points for the Mustangs, who were coming off a 74-70 win at then-No. 20 Memphis on Saturday. The Mustangs missed 10 of their first 11 shots as Cincinnati pulled ahead 16-3 and was never seriously threatened. He was the catalyst again as the Bearcats took control. The Mustangs trailed 33-19 at halftime, their fewest points in an opening half this season, and shot only 24 percent from the field. Cumberland scored nine consecutive points for Cincinnati, including a pair of steals and layups. The Bearcats pushed the lead to 24 points midway through the second half. The Mustangs have overcome double-digit deficits to win games this season, but their poor shooting prevented a comeback. They came into the game leading the AAC in field goal percentage at 46.6%. SMU couldn't handle Cincinnati's tight defense and shot a season-low 25.9% from the field while scoring a season low in points.

BALANCED SCORING: SMU nearly has five averaging double figures: Kendric Davis 19.7 (1st AAC), Feron Hunt (12.0, 15th AAC), Emmanuel Bandoumel 11.3 (20th), Ethan Chargois 11.3 (20th), Darius McNeill 9.5. SMU has had five finish in double figures seven times (1955-56, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1974-75, 1975-76, 2015-16, 2017-18).

RETURN TO SENDER: Yor Anei has 9 blocks in his first 3 games at SMU. He is averaging 2.30 blocks for his career, which is 9th among active student-athletes. He has had multiple blocks in 38 of 67 career games (2 of 3 this season). His 5 blocks at Temple tied the SMU record for blocks in an AAC game (Ben Moore 5 vs Cincinnati 1-7-2016).

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 8.1 rebounds (3rd AAC) and has at least 7 rebounds in 6 of 7 games this season. He has 7 or more rebounds in 39 of 69 career games. He has led the team 24 times in his career (4x 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 55.6% for his career (4th at SMU). He is at 55.7% so far this season (4th AAC) after 55.4% as a freshman and 55.7% as a sophomore.

MOSTLY FREE: SMU 73.2% on FTs so far this season (5th AAC). Kendric Davis is 83.9% (5th AAC), Emmanuel Bandoumel 79.2% (11th AAC), Darius McNeill 77.8%, and Ethan Chargois 71.0%. 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%. 

FIVE AND DIME: Kendric Davis is averaging 6.7 assists (1st AAC, 15th NCAA). He has 5 or more assists in 26 of 33 games at SMU (5 of 7 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 5 or more assists in 14 straight games (11/27/19 to 1/25/20). That was the longest streak with at least 5 assists since the SMU-record of 16 by Butch Moore from 3/14/85 to 1/8/86. Davis' 6.7 assists led the AAC (10th NCAA) and 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)

MOODY MAGIC: The Mustangs are 19-3 in the past 22 games at Moody Coliseum after going 15-2 at home last season. That was the seventh time in program history that SMU has successfully defended home court at least 15 times. Five of those are in the past seven seasons. Since Moody Coliseum re-opened for the 2014 American Athletic Conference schedule, SMU has successfully defended home court 104 times in 124 contests.

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
     Kendric Davis (J4) - 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds & 4.5 assists (at Temple, vs #5 Houston)
- 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)

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). 

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 253-171 (.597) [96-50 at SMU (.657), including 67-16 (.807) 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)

Most Home Wins at SMU (Record, Win%)
172     - Doc Hayes, 1947-67 (172-51, .771)
86 -     Dave Bliss, 1980-88 (86-33, .723)
93 -     J.W. St. Clair, 1924-38 (93-36, .721)
81 -     Mike Dement, 1995-04 (81-39, .675)
67 -     Tim Jankovich, 2015- (67-16, .807)

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