SMU (7-3) vs Dayton (6-3)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
December 8, 2021 – 7 p.m. CT
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SMU concludes a five-game homestand on Wednesday against Dayton. The Mustangs are 7-0 at Moody Coliseum this season after an 84-72 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

In the win over Vanderbilt, SMU rallied from 12 down at halftime (40-28) for the 84-72 win. The Mustangs opened the second half on an 11-0 run and outscored the Commodores 56-32 after the break. Kendric Davis led SMU with 21 points, five assists and a season-high five steals. He scored 17 in the second half, going 4-of-4 from the field, 2-of-2 from three and 7-of-9 on free throws. Zach Nutall had a season-high 20 points. The Mustangs had 21 assists on 30 field goals, with Michael Weathers and Marcus Weathers each recording three assists in addition to Davis' five. Emmanuel Bandoumel added 11 points and had two of the Mustangs' 11 steals. 

The Mustangs are 7-0 at home this season, and have won 28 of the last 32 games at Moody Coliseum.

SMU has won 11 straight non-conference home games, and is 58-15 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich. The Mustangs are 48-4 at Moody Coliseum in those games, 3-6 in neutral-site games and 7-5 in true road games.

Kendric Davis was named The American Player of the Week for the second time this season. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals as the Mustangs defeated UNLV, 83-64, and Vanderbilt, 84-72, to improve to 7-3 on the season. He shot 11-of-20 (55.0%) from the field, 4-of-10 (40.0%) from 3-point range and 13-of-15 (86.7%) at the free-throw line. In the comeback win over Vanderbilt, he had 17 of his 21 points in the second half, going 4-of-4 from the floor, 2-of-2 on threes and 7-of-9 on free throws after the break. 

Kendric Davis was selected unanimous preseason All-American Athletic Conference First Team, named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List, the Wooden Award Preseason 50 Watch List, the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List and the Lute Olson Player of the Year Award Watch List. Last season, he was unanimous All-AAC First Team as well as USBWA All-District and NABC All-District. Davis led the AAC in scoring (19.0) and assists (7.6, 4th NCAA) last season, and was the only player to lead his league in both. 

QUICK HITS

• Emmanuel Bandoumel is averaging 11.2 points (19th AAC) while hitting 39.3% (5th AAC) on 3FGs (24-61) and making 2.4 threes per game (8th AAC). Had a career-high 21 points in the win vs ULM on 11/28. In 2020-21, he averaged 10.2 points (24th AAC), 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.4% from three (14th AAC) and 73.3% on FTs. He had a then-career-high 19 points, including the buzzer-beating game winner for a 66-64 victory at Dayton on Dec. 5, 2020.

• Tristan Clark (2019-20 Karl Malone Watch List) is averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 71.1% from the field (27-38).

• Kendric Davis (2021-22 Preseason All-AAC First Team, Bob Cousy PG of the Year Watch List, Lute Olson Player of the Year Watch List, Naismith Trophy Watch List, Wooden Award Watch List, AAC Player of the Week [N22, D6], AAC Weekly Honor Roll [N29] - 2020-21 All-AAC First Team, NABC All-District First Team, USBWA All-District, Lute Olson National Player of the Year Mid-Season Watch List, ESPN Player of the Week [D7], AAC Player of the Week [D7, F15], AAC Weekly Honor Roll [N30, D21, J4, J11, J25, F8]) is averaging 20.3 points (2nd AAC, 24th NCAA), 4.9 rebounds (20th AAC), 5.6 assists (1st AAC, 22nd NCAA) with a 1.8 assist/turnover ratio (7th AAC) and hitting 49.6% on FGs (5th AAC), 87.7% on FTs (1st AAC, 53rd NCAA) and 40.4% 3FGs with 2.3 3FGs per game (9th AAC). In 2020-21, he averaged 19.0 points (1st AAC) and 7.6 assists (1st AAC, 4th NCAA), 1.6 steals (4th AAC) with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 10th NCAA). He was also among the league leaders in FG% (48.1, 7th), 3FG% (37.3, 12th AAC) and FT% (83.3, 5th AAC). He had 5 points-assists double-doubles last season. He has 5 or more assists in 34 of 43 games as a Mustang. He set the AAC record with 14 assists vs Cincinnati 1/7. 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. Davis led The American in scoring and assists. He was the only player in the country to lead his league in both. 

• Tyler Lundblade (2020-21 McDonald's All-American nominee) is going to redshirt this season. 

• Isiah Jasey has started all 10 games and is averaging 1.0 blocked shots (9th AAC) and 2.8 rebounds. Last season, he started 15 of 17 games. He finished 6th in the AAC in blocked shots (1.0) while adding 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per contest.

• Zach Nutall (2020-21 Southland Conference Player of the Year at Sam Houston) is averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists (20th AAC) while hitting 34.5% on 3FG.

• Zhuric Phelps (2020-21 Texas Mr. Basketball) is averaging 3.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.9 steals. His 5 steals in the win vs ULM on Nov. 28 were the most by an SMU freshman since Feb. 19, 2011 (Jeremiah Samarrippas had 6 vs Tulsa).

• Jalen Smith has started the past two games. He is averaging 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and he is 5-10 on 3FGs.

• Stefan Todorovic (Nike Hoop Summit, Serbian U19 Team) is averaging 4.7 points and hitting 42.9% from three in his freshman season (12-28).

• Marcus Weathers (2-time All-A-10 at Duquesne) has 2 doubles-doubles. He is averaging 10.9 points, 6.7 rebounds (5th AAC) and 1.0 blocks (9th AAC) while hitting 54.5% on FGs and 74.1% on FTs. 

• Michael Weathers (2020-21 SWAC Newcomer of the Year at Texas Southern) is contributing 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals (12th AAC) and 1.4 blocks (6th AAC).

• Jahmar Young Jr. is adding 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots (8th AAC)

• SMU is 108-58 under Tim Jankovich and 76-17 at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs are 28-4 at Moody Coliseum since the start of 2019-20.

• SMU is 58-15 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich. The Mustangs are 48-4 at Moody Coliseum in those games, 3-6 in neutral-site games and 7-5 in true road games. 

• SMU is 73-46 in AAC play since the start of 2014-15. The Mustangs are 45-15 at Moody Coliseum.

• SMU held 7 of 10 opponents under 40%. The Mustangs are 6-1 this season and 67-9 under Tim Jankovich when holding opponents at or below 40%. 

• SMU shot a better percentage than 7 of 10 opponents so far this season. SMU is 6-1 this season and 97-10 under Tim Jankovich when outshooting an opponent.

• The Mustangs had five double-digit scorers in the win over Northwestern State. The Mustangs have had 4 score in double figures in 4 of 10 games this season. SMU is 3-1 this season and 72-15 under Tim Jankovich when at least four score 10+.

• The Mustangs have been ranked or received votes in the AP Poll in seven of the previous eight seasons (2013-14 to 2020-21). 

• SMU has 7 wins against AP Top 25 teams under Tim Jankovich (20 games). That is second at SMU. Doc Hayes had 13 from 1947-67.

•  SMU has won four total American Athletic Conference Championships, winning the regular season and tournament titles in 2015 and 2017.

•  SMU has had three players selected in the NBA Draft since 2017. Sterling Brown and Semi Ojeleye in 2017 and Shake Milton in 2018. Jahmal McMurray was selected in the 2019 NBA G-League Draft. Ben Moore played for Indiana, San Antonio and in the G-League for Fort Wayne, the affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. Feron Hunt spent the 2021-22 preseason with the Dallas Mavericks and is with the Texas Legends, the G-League affiliate for the Mavericks.

• The Mustangs have 17 All-American Athletic Conference honorees, the highest in the AAC, in the first eight seasons of the league. That includes five first-team selections.

LAST GAME (W, 84-72 vs Vanderbilt on Dec. 4): DALLAS (AP) - Kendric Davis scored 21 points, Zach Nutall added 20, and SMU scored 56 after halftime to beat Vanderbilt 84-72 on Saturday night. The Mustangs turned it around after the break when they went to intermission down 40-28. An 11-0 run to start the second half featured a 3-pointer and layup by Nutall and a layup and a pair of free throws from Emmanuel Bandoumel to reduce Vanderbilt's lead to one. Kendric Davis made a 3 and followed with a layup for a 51-47 lead with 14:19 remaining and SMU (7-3) proceeded to extend the lead from there. Scotty Pippen Jr. made a 3, reducing Vanderbilt's deficit to 56-50 with 12:02 left before the Commodores (5-2) went almost four minutes without scoring. Vanderbilt made 15 of 29 shot attempts in the first half compared to 8 for 33 after halftime. SMU conversely went from 11 for 33 to 19 for 30 in the second half. Nutall's 3 with 6:56 left before halftime gave SMU a 26-25 lead before the Commodores closed the half by outscoring SMU 15-2 which included a 9-0 run. Pippen scored 29 points for Vanderbilt and Jordan Wright had 14 points with 12 rebounds.

THE SERIES VS. DAYTON (3-1): The Mustangs are 3-1 in the series after the 66-64 win at Dayton last season. SMU won a neutral-site matchup, 67-59, in Lexington, Kentucky on Dec. 22, 1956, and the only matchup at Moody Coliseum, 53-48, on Nov. 18, 2006. Dayton's win was 82-57 at UD on Nov. 24, 2007.

LAST TIME VS DAYTON (W, 66-64 on December 5, 2020): DAYTON, Ohio – Emmanuel Bandomuel's floater from the left side with .2 left on the clock was met with screams from the nearby SMU bench and silence from the rest of University of Dayton Arena, as the Mustangs earned a 66-64 road victory. SMU (4-0) remained perfect on the young season, while ending Dayton's 20-game win streak. The improbable finish capped a day where the Mustangs spent more than 30 minutes trailing and never led by more than three. Down 61-60 with 2:22 left, both teams went cold for a stretch before Bandoumel hit a jumper with just under a minute to play to put SMU ahead by one. After a missed jumper by Dayton (1-1), SMU's Kendric Davis knocked down a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left to give the Mustangs their largest advantage of the day at 64-61. Dayton's Ibi Watson responded with 9 seconds left in regulation, hitting a 3-pointer to pull even for the seventh tie of the day. That set the stage for Bandoumel's game-deciding basket.

THE SERIES VS NEW MEXICO (0-3): The teams met three times while members of the WAC. The Lobos swept the 1996-97 home-and home. SMU also fell 57-56 in the 1999 WAC Tournament. 

UP NEXT: The Mustangs conclude non-conference play with games at New Mexico on Dec. 19 and home against Evansville on Dec. 21. American Athletic Conference play opens at Tulsa on Dec. 29.

BIG-SHOT BANDOUMEL: Emmanuel Bandoumel hit a driving jumper with 0.2 on the clock for the 66-64 win at [-/rv] Dayton on Dec. 5, 2020. It was his second game winner. He previously hit a three that beat the shot-clock buzzer with 30 seconds left in overtime for a 73-72 victory over [20/19] Houston on Feb. 15, 2020. He also hit a three to beat the halftime horn in the 80-75 overtime loss to Missouri. 
FIVE AND DIME: Kendric Davis is averaging 20.3 points (2nd AAC, 24th NCAA) and 5.6 assists (1st AAC, 22nd NCAA) with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio (7th AAC). Last season, he averaged 7.6 assists (1st AAC, 4th NCAA). He has 5 or more assists in 40 of 52 games at SMU (6 of 9 this season). He set the AAC record with 14 assists vs Cincinnati 1/7/21 and has notched 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).
SMU Career Assists Average
    1    9.0    Billy Allen (468/52), 1978-80
    2    6.8    Kendric Davis, 2019-
    3    6.6    Butch Moore (828/125), 1982-86
    4    5.6    Michael G. Jaccar (239/43), 1974-76
    5    5.1    Nic Moore (508/100), 2013-16
SMU Career Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (Since 1976-77 - Min. 3.0 assists)
    1    2.68    Kendric Davis, 2019- (359 / 136)
    2    2.53    Scott Johnson, 1983-87 (334 / 132)
    3    2.38    Jimmy Whitt, 2017-19 (233 / 98)
    4    2.32    Billy Allen, 1978-80 (468 / 202)
    5    2.13    Shake Milton, 2015-18 (337 / 158)
    6    2.12    Nic Moore, 2013-16 (508 / 240)
    7    2.11    Butch Moore, 1982-86 (828 / 392)
    8    2.00    Todd Alexander, 1987-89 (176 / 88)
SMU Career Assists
    1    828    Butch Moore, 1982-86
    2    508    Nic Moore (100), 2013-16
    3    491    Gerald Lewis, 1989-93
    4    469    Jeryl Sasser, 1997-01
    5    468    Billy Allen, 1978-80
    7    419    Roderick Hampton, 1987-91
    8    403    Kato Armstrong, 1985-89
    9    396    Bryan Hopkins, 2002-06
    10    387    Troy Matthews, 1993-97
    11    371    Jon Killen, 2004-08
    12    363    Zachary Thiel, 1971-74
    13    359    Kendric Davis, 2019-

KD FREE: Kendric Davis is 64-of-73 (87.7%, 1st AAC, 53rd NCAA) on free throws this season. He shot 83.3% on FTs in 2020-21 (5th AAC) and 85.4% in 2019-20 (2nd AAC).
SMU Career FT Pct.
    1    88.4    Eric Longino (99-112), 1987-89
    2    85.4    Kendric Davis (222-260), 2019-
    3    84.2    Robert Nyakundi (182-216), 2008-12
    4    83.9    Charles Beasley (270-322), 1964-67
    5    83.8    Nic Moore (301-359), 2013-16
    6    82.9    Todd Alexander (121-146), 1987-89
        82.9    Jahmal McMurray (97-117), 2017-19

GRAND TIME: The Mustangs have four players with over least 1,000 career points. 
1,433    Marcus Weathers
1,310    Zach Nutall
1,135    Michael Weathers
1,129    Kendric Davis (896 at SMU)

2021-22 Newcomers (D-I transfers totaling 3,000+ points entering the season)
4,615    Kentucky (6 newcomers)
4,125    Arkansas (6)
3,882    Florida (4)
3,733    SMU (4)
3,577    Penn State (4)
3,354    Georgia (5)
3,175    Utah (6)
3,132    Arizona State (3)
3,080    Penn State (3)

MOODY MAGIC: The Mustangs are 28-4 in the past 32 games at Moody Coliseum. Since Moody Coliseum re-opened for the 2014 American Athletic Conference schedule, SMU has successfully defended home court 113 times in 134 contests.

TWIN PAIRING: Marcus and Michael Weathers are one of just seven sets of twins playing on the same Division I team, and one of just 14 sets of brothers. The Weathers played together as freshmen at Miami (OH) for then head coach John Cooper. After being apart for four seasons, they are playing together in their final collegiate season. 

2021-22 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
- Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List | Kendric Davis (1 of 50)
- Naismith Trophy Watch List | Kendric Davis (1 of 50)
- Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List | Kendric Davis (1 of 20)
- Lute Olson Player of the Year Award Watch List | Kendric Davis (1 of 40)
- Preseason All-American Athletic Conference | Kendric Davis (1st Team - Unanimous)
- American Athletic Conference Player of the Week
     N22 - Kendric Davis (24.3 pts, 5.7 asts, 5.0 rebs, 1.2 stls, 22-38 FGs, 9-18 3FGs, 20-23 FTs in 3 games)
     D6 - Kendric Davis (19.5pts, 6.5asts, 3.5rebs, 2.5stls, 11-20 FGs, 4-10 3FGs, 13-15 FTs wins vs UNLV & Vanderbilt)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     N29 - Kendric Davis (21.3 pts, 6.0 rebs, 5.3 asts, 1.3 stls, 19-39 FGs, 8-19 3FGs, 18-21 FTs in 3 games)

HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his sixth season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 39th season as a collegiate coach, and his 17th as a head coach. As a head coach, he is 265-179 (.597) [108-58 at SMU (.651), including 76-17 (.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 nine 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)

- 9 NITs (CSU '88, Vanderbilt '00, '02; Illinois State '08, '09, '10, '12; SMU '14 Final, '21)

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)
76 -     Tim Jankovich, 2015- (76-17, .816)

CALL IT A COMEBACK: SMU has rallied from a 10-plus point deficit to win 13 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
12 (40-28)    0:19 1st    Vanderbilt (12/4/21)    84-72
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
10 (14-4)    11:16 1st    at ECU (2/8/21)    71-56
10 (60-50)    7:19 2nd    ULM (11/28/21)    74-67

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.

NON-CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON HOME WINNING STREAKS: 
Wins    Streak Started    Streak Ended
39    Colorado State; W, 63-62  (Dec. 17, 1952)    Oklahoma; L, 96-83 (Dec. 4, 1962)
33    Texas Southern; W, 72-59 (Nov. 26, 2014)    Southern Miss; L, 74-64 (Nov. 11, 2018)
30    Central Michigan; W, 89-78 (Dec. 17, 1982)    [4] North Carolina; L, 88-86 (OT) (Dec. 30, 1986)
16    Texas-Pan American; W, 86-75 (Jan. 2, 1999)    Texas Tech; L, 78-75 (Nov. 20, 2001)
16    McMurry; W, 84-42 (Dec. 16, 1995)    Alcorn State; L, 75-74 (Dec. 5, 1998)
—-
11+    Georgia State; W, 85-76 (Dec. 23, 2019)