SMU Mustangs (12-6, 3-3 AAC) vs. Houston Cougars (6-12, 3-2 AAC)
Jan. 21, 2023 | 2p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store) | John Hendry
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OPENING TIP
SMU returns home to face Houston Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
This is the second meeting of 2022-23. The Cougars defeated the Mustangs 60-44 on Dec. 30 in Houston.
Houston leads the series 36-27, including a 19-14 advantage in Dallas.
SMU's last win over Houston came on Feb. 22, 2020, when the Mustangs defeated the Cougars 60-47 in Dallas.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Houston is 6-12 and 3-2 in league play heading into Saturday's match-up.
The Cougars have dropped two straight, most recently a 58-56 setback against USF.
 
MOODY MAGIC
SMU is 9-0 at home – tying the program's best start to open a season (2004-05) and best home winning streak (1999-00, final nine games).
 
INSIDE THE STREAK
During the nine-game home winning streak, the Mustangs have averaged 67.1 points, while opponents averaged 50.1 points and grabbed 11.1 fewer rebounds. SMU has converted 43.7% from the field, including 35.3% behind the arc, and held opponents to 32.7% shooting and 27.5% from three. 

SMU also matched the fourth longest overall winning streak with seven wins (11/18 vs. Texas A&M Commerce - 12/7 vs. UNT). 
7 - 1979-80, 1993-94, 2007-08, 2013-14, 2022-23
 
HOME COOKING
The Mustangs outscore their opponents 67.1-50.1 at Moody Coliseum, shooting 43.7% to opponents' 32.7%.
The Mustangs are shooting 35.3% at home compared to 27.5% for the visitors.
In rebounding action, SMU owns the 43.2-32.1 advantage.
 
QUARTER POLE
SMU is 12-0 when leading or tied after three quarters, including 11-0 when holding the advantage.
The Mustangs own an 11-1 mark when ahead or even after the first period.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Mustangs are 10-2 when outrebounding their opponents.
SMU has outscored its foes in the paint in 16-of-18 games, winning 12.
The Mustangs are 9-3 when tallying more second-chance points.
 
SHOOTING STARS
SMU owns a 11-2 mark when outshooting its opponents
The Mustangs are 9-1 when hitting at least 40% from the field.
SMU is 11-1 when holding opponents at 39.9% or less
 
GAME FOR THE AGES
Chantae Embry tallied 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and one steal in the win over UCF, becoming the first Mustang with 15+ points, 10+ rebounds, four+ assists and at least one steal since Dai'ja Thomas tallied 15 points, 22 rebounds, four assists and one steal in a win over East Carolina Jan. 13, 2018.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE
SMU allows 58.8 ppg, ranking third in the AAC and T77th in the nation.
The Mustangs own a 10-2 record when holding opponents below 60 points.
Oklahoma and Wichita State are the only teams to surpass its scoring average against SMU in regulation. ECU scored 66 in the Mustangs' overtime win, surpassing its season average of 62.4.
SMU's lone loss when holding a team below 40% occurred at Baylor.
    
BEST IN THE AAC
Ella Brow was named the AAC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after wins against Cincinnati and ECU.
Jasmine Smith collected AAC Co-Player of the Week honors Dec. 5, after her performance at the Raising the B.A.R. tournament.
Chantae Embry is a three-time AAC Weekly Honor Roll selection (1/16, 1/2, 11/14).
Savannah Wilkinson earned a unanimous selection on the Preseason All-AAC Team.
Wilkinson was also named to the All-AAC second team in 2012-22, while Kayla White was selected to the third team.
 
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
SMU won the second Raising the B.A.R. Invitational, hosted by Cal Dec. 3-4, defeating Gardner-Webb 84-71 and Cal 70-56.
Jasmine Smith earned MVP and all-tournament team accolades, while Savannah Wilkinson and Tamia Jones joined her on the all-tournament team.
 
20-20 VISION
Chantae Embry owns three of the Mustangs' four 20-point games this season (20 at OU, 20 at Oral Roberts, 20 vs. ECU)
Jasmine Smith totaled 21 in a home win over LA Tech Nov. 22.
 
MUSTANGS IN THE CLASSROOM
SMU posted a team fall term grade-point-average of 3.12.
 
MUSTANG MILESTONES
In the win over ECU on Jan. 16, a pair of Mustangs hit career milestones:
Paige Bayliss | 100 games played at SMU
Savannah Wilkinson | 600 rebounds (615)
Reagan Bradley is three points away from 600 career points and two steals away from 100 career steals.
 
EXPERIENCE LEADS YOUTH
SMU returned eight players who saw significant playing time in 2021-22, including regular starters Savannah Wilkinson, Jasmine Smith and Reagan Bradley.
The Mustangs picked up transfers Chantae Embry (Texas Tech) and Jessica Peterson (Fresno State).
SMU added a five-player freshman class.
 
OPENING STRONG
SMU was predicted to finish third in the AAC standings in 2022-23 behind league front-runners USF and Houston.
The Mustangs received a vote in the preseason USA Today/Coaches Top 25 poll.
Savannah Wilkinson was selected as a unanimous preseason all-conference player.
SMU made its first WNIT appearance since 2017 last season.
 
WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP
Head Coach Toyelle Wilson inked a pair of guards to a National Letter of Intent, signing Aaliyah Henderson (Norman, Okla.) and Shanel Reid (Austin, Texas).

Aaliyah Henderson, 5-7, Guard, Norman, Okla./Norman High School
Henderson, a three-year letterwinner for Norman High School ranks in the top-five in Oklahoma for the class of 2022 at the point-guard position. She earned two All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Selections, including first team in 2022. Her team won the 2021 Oklahoma 6A State Title after qualifying for the state tournament the previous year, before it was cancelled due to COVID-19. Her other accolades include Joe Lawson All Tournament First Team, Bruce Gray Invitational All Tournament MVP, 56th Annual Tournament of Champions All-Tournament First Team, Big All City Second Team, The Oklahoman Super 5 Honorable Mention, a two-time All-Oklahoma Honorable mention. In the classroom, Henderson entered her senior campaign for accuracy.
 
"Aaliyah is a scoring point guard that can flat out score the ball," Wilson said. "She brings a defensive mentality we need on our team. She has instant energy and quickness that will help our team on both sides of the ball. Aaliyah won a state championship and knew what it takes to win. She is a proven winner and I'm excited for Mustang Nation to see her on the court."
 
Shanel Reid, 5-11, Guard, Austin High School/Austin, Texas
Reid, a three-year letterwinner for Austin High School earned All-Texas First Team Honors twice, an All-Texas Academic First Team Accolade, All-Region First Team in 2021-22, All-District First Team Selection and 2019-20 district newcomer of the year and offensive MVP.
 
"Shanel is a 6-0 wing with a smooth game that will bring size and athleticism to our back court," Wilson said. "She can shoot the three, get to the rim and has a great midrange game. She handles the ball well and is an incredible passer. The best part of her game is how versatile she is from the perimeter. When I got to see her in person, she made a huge impact for her team on and off the ball. She will have a chance to make an immediate impact with the system we run here at SMU."
 
NEW FACES, SAME CONFERENCE
The American has finalized entrance agreements with its six incoming member institutions, who will officially join the conference July 1, 2023.
 
The establishment of the entry date comes after the conference reached agreement with its three exiting schools – UCF, Cincinnati and Houston – to terminate their conference membership as of June 30, 2023. The American announced in October that UAB, FAU, Charlotte, UNT, Rice and UTSA had their applications for membership approved by the conference's nine continuing members.
 
The six new members will join East Carolina, Memphis, Navy (football only), South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa and Wichita State (basketball and Olympic Sports only) – to bring The American's membership to 15 schools, beginning with the 2023-24 academic year. The American will compete as a 14-team league in football and in men's and women's basketball among other sports.
 
SMU ATHLETICS LAUNCHES NEW STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS DEPARTMENT
As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announced the creation of a new Student-Athlete Success Department. This new department encompasses all student-development-centered efforts such as Life After Ball, SAAC and community service initiatives. Additionally, it will house NIL Education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming. Due to a generous donation from Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin, SMU Athletics will be able to grow staffing in these critical areas in our support of our student-athletes.
 
MUSTANG STUDENT-ATHLETES & NIL
SMU Football student-athletes benefit from Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities through SMU Athletics' conference-leading BOLD NIL program. SMU topped the AAC for NIL Deals among INFLCR partners, ranking No. 1 in Total Transactions, Total Transaction Value and Average Transaction Value. To date, SMU student-athletes overall have over 320 transactions for over $760,000 with an average transaction value of $2,300.
 
SMU ATHLETICS CELEBRATES RECORD FUNDRAISING YEAR
The SMU Mustang Club broke the all-time fundraising record with $73 million in gift receipts and new commitments for the 2022 fiscal year, which ended May 31. The totals represent an increase of nearly $47 million from the previous fiscal year. It is the first fiscal year in which cash donations and commitments have eclipsed $70 million since the Mustang Club was founded in 1935. Through the generosity of Mustang donors, cash gifts rose 71% from fiscal year 2021 and totaled $36 million. The best-ever performance resulted from the contributions of 3,105 donors.
 
BOLD: Big Opportunities Live in Dallas
As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announces the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, intending to help student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation.
 
BOLD will provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape.
 
The BOLD program will incorporate INFLCR, a comprehensive NIL education and compliance solution, and campus resources from the Cox School of Business, the Dedman School of Law, and the Meadows School of the Arts.