SMU (4-2) vs ULM (2-2)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, November 26, 2023 – 2:00 p.m. CT
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The Mustangs begin a three-game homestand against ULM on Sunday. The stretch of games in Moody Coliseum includes Dayton on Nov. 29 and Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3. The Mustangs are 4-2 on the season after falling to Wisconsin, 69-61, in the championship game of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off on Wednesday. SMU defeated West Virginia, 70-58, in the semifinal on Monday. The only blemish on the 3-1 record at Moody Coliseum was 79-66 to then-13/15 Texas A&M on Nov. 14. 

Zhuric Phelps was named to the Fort Myers All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the games against West Virginia and Wisconsin. 

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by Zhuric Phelps (15.0, 13th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.7). Phelps is also averaging 3.0 assists (15th AAC) and 2.0 steals (7th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 4.2 assists per game (8th AAC) and 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd AAC, 25 assists / 5 turnovers). SMU is averaging 9.3 steals (3rd, 52nd NCAA), 5.2 blocked shots (3rd AAC, 56th NCAA) and 14.2 offensive rebounds (2nd AAC, 44th NCAA).

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs' defense is holding opponents to 37.8% (4th AAC, 43rd NCAA) from the field after allowing 45.3% in 2022-23. SMU has held every opponent under 42.0% this season. The three-point defense has also improved from 34.9% last season to 26.2% (2nd AAC, 37th NCAA) so far this season. The Mustangs have increased blocked shots per game to 5.2 (3rd AAC, 46th NCAA) from 3.4 and are also +3.7 in rebound margin this season after a -2.6 last season.

ROCKET MORTGAGE FORT MYERS TIP-OFF: SMU defeated West Virginia 70-58 in the semifinal before falling 69-61 to Wisconsin in the championship game. Zhuric Phelps was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals. In the semifinal, SMU outscored West Virginia 45-22 in the second half en route to the win. In the final against Wisconsin, the Mustangs led by as many as 11 and the game was tied at 57-57 with 2:48 left.

MUSTANGS GO 3-0 IN SPAIN: SMU men's basketball finished 3-0 on its three-game exhibition tour in Spain. The Mustangs won 88-77 in Madrid, 125-66 in Valencia and 92-60 in Barcelona. For the three games, the Mustangs shot 50.2% from the field, averaged 15.7 steals and had a plus-21.7 rebound margin (55.7-34.0).
 
Samuell Williamson averaged 16.0 points to lead the team in scoring, while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game and shooting 62.5% (20-32). Zhuric Phelps added 15.7 points per game while totaling seven assists and six steals in the three contests. B.J. Edwards led with 6.0 assists per game while also averaging 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
Ja'Heim Hudson contributed 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Chuck Harris scored 11.0 per game with 2.0 assists. Tyreek Smith a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game with 6.7 points. Denver Anglin added 6.7 points and an assist per outing. Keon Ambrose-Hylton shot 56.3% from the field (9-16) while averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. Ricardo Wright added 5.3 points and 1.3 assists. Emory Lanier had eight points, five assists and two steals for the trip.
 
During the trip, the travel party visited historic sites in each city. Highlights included Madrid's Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace as well a tour of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid, the Port of Valencia and a tour at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 6 games... averaging 8.2 points and shooting 53.6%...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, shot 56.3% from the field (9-16) while averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. 2022-23: Played all 32 games... averaged 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots... Hit 65.7% on FGs. 

Denver Anglin (6-1, 185, G, So.) | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and an assist per outing. 2022-23 at Georgetown: Played in 18 games.

B.J. Edwards (6-3, 185, G, So.) | 2023-24: Averaging 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he averaged a team-best 6.0 assists with 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio… nearly had a triple-double in the win in Valencia (10 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists). 2022-23 at Tennessee: Played 14 games for a team that made the NCAA Sweet 16.

Xavier Foster (7-0, 225, F, Jr.) | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, had a team-high four blocked shots in the three games while adding 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per matchup. 2022-23: Played 10 games... had 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Chuck Harris (6-4, 190, G, Sr.): 2023-24: Started all 6 games... averaging 13.7 points and 1.3 steals while shooting 42.3% on threes (11-26) and 13-13 on FTs... Scored 1,000th career point in the win vs Lamar 11/9 | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 11.0 points and 2.0 assists while hitting 5-of-6 on free throws. 2022-23 at Butler: played in 29 of 32 games (missed 3 due to injury) with 24 starts…Averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals while hitting 34.0% on 3FGs...Team-high 85.3% on FTs (7th Big East)… Led team in scoring six times while scoring in double figures 16 times...Three 20-point games… Eight games with 5+ rebounds and four games with 3+ steals.

Ja'Heim Hudson (6-7, 220, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 3.2 points and 3.5 rebounds... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and a steal… Recorded his tour-best 12 boards in the final contest at Barcelona. 2022-23 at Georgia State: Averaged team-best 6.9 rebounds (12th Sun Belt) with 10.1 points… Led the team with 22 blocked shots and was third with 27 steals ... Had three double-doubles ... Scored in double figures 13 times and grabbed double-figure rebounds in five games.

Emory Lanier (6-4, 190, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 5.8 points and shooting 52.4% on 3FGs (8-15)... has 8  3FGs this season (5 in 2022-23, 3 total in 2 seasons at Davidson 2020-22)... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he totaled eight points, five assists and two steals. 2022-23: Played in 27 games... totaled 46 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists and 8 steals... AWARDS: NABC Honors Court... AAC All-Academic Team.

Mo Njie (6-11, 250, C, Jr.) | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 3.0 rebounds and a blocked shot… Had a tour-best seven rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 25 games...had 42 points, 39 rebounds and 9 blocked shots.

Zhuric Phelps (6-5, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals with 4 total blocks... Recorded 100th career steal in the win vs Western Illinois 11/8... Preseason All-AAC Second Team. | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals in just 18.0 minutes. 2023 NBA DRAFT: On April 12, Zhuric Phelps announced he would enter the NBA?Draft and maintain his collegiate eligibility. On May 24, he announced he would withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to SMU for his junior season. 2022-23: Started all 30 games he played... Averaged 17.5 points (6th AAC), 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, (11th AAC) 2.3 steals (1st AAC, 16th NCAA)... Scored 19+ in 17 games... Had 5+ assists 8 times, including 7 of last 13 games... Had 17 games with multiple steals... AWARDS: AAC Player of the Week (D26)...AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N28, F13, F20)... Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team (D22-25)... SMU SEASON RECORDS: 524 points (23rd), 2.3 steals (T-4th), 68 steals (4th).

Jalen Smith (6-2, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 5.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists while hitting 40.0% on threes (8-20)...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 assists without committing a turnover… Hit 64.7% on field goals (11-17) and 2-5 on threes. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 23 starts...averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio... Scored 10+ five times.

Tyreek Smith (6-8, 225, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 8.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged a team-best 8.0 rebounds with 6.7 points and a block per game… Had 9 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the opening win at Madrid. 2022-23 at Oklahoma State: Played all 36 games with 9 starts as team made the NIT Quarterfinals… Averaged 5.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots while shooting 59.7% from the field… Had seven games scoring 10+ and four games with 10+ rebounds (all in the last 5 games)… Had 2 double-doubles… Had multiple blocks 6 times.

Trey Utter (6-0, 160, G, So.) | Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, scoring two points in his first appearance in the victory in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 2 games...Made his SMU debut in the AAC-opening win vs Tulsa 1/1... AWARDS: AAC All-Academic Team.

Samuell Williamson (6-8, 205, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Averaging 7.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged team-best 16.0 points with 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists while shooting 62.5% (20-32)… Game-high 26 points (12-17 FGs) with 7 rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 30 starts... Averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds (6th AAC), 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals (11th AAC), 0.8 blocked shots.... Had 6 double-doubles (6th AAC)... Scored 10+ in 16 games... Had 7+ rebounds 17 times... 15 games with multiple steals... AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (J2), AAC All-Academic Team.

Ricardo Wright (6-3, 185, G, Sr.) | Shooting 33.3% on threes (5-15)... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. 2022-23: Played in 27 games... averaged 3.1 points and 0.8 rebounds with 9 assists and 6 steals... Shot b34.6% on 3FGs... Had 4 games with 10+ points.

Jackson Young (6-2, 185, G, Jr.) | Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, hitting a pair of threes in finale in Barcelona and totaling two assists. 2022-23: Played in 5 games.

SOLD OUT: The SMU game versus [13/15] Texas A&M on Nov. 14 was played in front of a sellout crow of 6,852 at Moody Coliseum. It was the first sellout since Feb. 24, 2018 against [13/12] Wichita State.

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 41.3 rebounds with a +3.7 margin. The 14.2 offensive rebounds per game is second in the AAC and is 44th nationally (through Nov. 23). Four Mustangs are averaging at least 4.7 rebounds with Samuell Williamson at 6.2, Tyreek Smith at 5.5, Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 4.7 and Zhuric Phelps at 4.7. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.8 offensive rebounds (5th AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 2.3 (12th AAC).

THE SCHEDULE: The non-conference schedule is highlighted by home games against Dayton and then-[13/15] Texas A&M (L, 79-66), road match-ups with Arizona State and Florida State plus the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off with West Virginia (W, 70-58 - semifinal) and Wisconsin (L, 69-61 - championship). SMU will play five AAC opponents twice: ECU, [rv/rv] Memphis, North Texas, Tulane and UAB. The Mustangs will play home games only against Charlotte, Temple, Tulsa and UTSA, and play road games only versus [10/10] Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Florida and Wichita State. The American Men's Basketball Championship is March 13-17 (Wednesday-Sunday) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 9.3 steals through 6 games (52nd NCAA through 11/23). SMU recorded 17 in the win over Western Illinois on Nov. 8. Ten different Mustangs have a steal this season, led by Zhuric Phelps (12), B.J. Edwards (11) and Chuck Harris (8).
SMU Single-Game Steals
- 19, Ark-Pine Bluff, 12-20-2004
- 18, [15] Tulsa, 3-4-2000
- 17, Houston Baptist,12-2-2020
- 17, Western Illinois, 11-8-2023

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 107 career steals, which is 23rd at SMU. He had 68 steals in 2022-23, averaging 2.3 per game (1st AAC, 16th NCAA). That was fifth in a season at SMU. Phelps had a career-high 7 steals at Wichita State on Feb. 12, which tied for third in a game at SMU and was the most since Nic Moore had 7 vs Texas Southern 11/26/2014. Phelps also had 6 at Tulsa on Jan. 18 as well as 5 against Cincinnati on Jan. 14 and five at USF on Feb. 25.

ROCKET MORTGAGE FORT MYERS TIP-OFF - SEMIFINAL (W, 70-58 vs West Virginia on Nov. 20): FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Zhuric Phelps scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and SMU pulled away midway through the second half to beat West Virginia 70-58 on Monday night in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. SMU (4-1) took the lead for good on a Chuck Harris step-back jumper with 10:54 remaining that sparked a 22-8 run. Eight players scored for SMU during the stretch that included Ricardo Wright's two 3-pointers and Keon Ambrose-Hylton's six points as the Mustangs stretched their advantage to 68-55 with 2:50 to play. Wright and Harris scored 12 points apiece and Ambrose-Hylton had 10 for SMU, which shot 60% (18 of 30) from the floor and grabbed 22 of its 33 rebounds in the second half. Jesse Edwards scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting to lead West Virginia (2-2). Quinn Slazinski made three 3s and finished with 13 points. The Mountaineers shot 26% (7 of 27) from the floor in the second half and 37% (20 of 54) overall. CHAMPIONSHIP (L, 69-61 vs Wisconsin on Nov. 22): FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Max Klesmit scored all 12 of his points in the second half and Wisconsin rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat SMU 69-61 on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Beach Division of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Mustangs hit 7 of 9 from beyond the arc in the first half to build a 32-24 advantage at the break, but were just 1 of 7 from distance in the second half. Tyler Wahl and Klesmit each scored to start the second half and halve the Badgers' deficit, but SMU pushed its advantage to 10 points, 40-30 with under 14 minutes left on Jalen Smith's 3-pointer, the Mustangs lone trey of the half. Wisconsin answered wth a 7-0 run. Klesmit scored at the basket, then hit from deep to tie the game at 46. Chucky Hepburn's three-point play put the Badgers in front 55-53 and AJ Storr's dunk with 2:21 left gave them the lead for good. After shooting 1 of 14 from long range in the first half, the Badgers hit 4 of 10 in the second along with 11 of 12 from the line to fuel their comeback. Wahl finished with 14 points and six rebounds for Wisconsin (4-2). Storr had 11 points, Hepburn added 10 and John Blackwell had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Zhuric Phelps led SMU (4-2) with 19 points. Chuck Harris added 13 points.

UP NEXT: The Mustangs host Dayton on Wednesday and then Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3. SMU follows with road tests at Arizona State on Dec. 6 and Florida State on Dec. 16. The non-conference concludes with a home game against Houston Christian on Dec. 19 and a road trip to Murray State on Dec. 22.

THE SERIES VS ULM (3-1): The Mustangs have won three straight at home after losing the series opener, 71-64, at ULM to open the 2005-06 season. The home wins are 99-66 on Nov. 22, 2006; 83-65 on Nov. 12, 2017; and 74-67 on Nov. 28, 2021.

LAST MEETING VS ULM (W, 74-67 vs ULM on Nov. 28, 2021): DALLAS (AP) — Kendric Davis scored 26 points as SMU defeated Louisiana-Monroe 74-67 on Sunday. Emmanuel Bandoumel added 21 points for the Mustangs. Zhuric Phelps had five steals for SMU (5-3), which earned its fifth straight home victory. Koreem Ozier had 15 points for the Warhawks (2-4). Andre Jones added 13 points. Thomas Howell had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

HISTOR-ACC DAY: SMU celebrated one of the most important moments in the school's history on Sept. 1 when it received and accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. With the additions of SMU, Cal & Stanford, the ACC will have 18 members.

PONY UP DALLAS: In just seven days after announcing the move into the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sept. 1, SMU raised $100 million to support the Mustangs' transition to the ACC in 2024. The generous early commitments from a group of thirty donors that includes trustees and key donors – alumni and non-alumni alike – enables SMU to align and compete with an elite group of national institutions with powerhouse athletic programs, benefiting both SMU Athletics and the entire University community. The move to the new conference is also creating additional impact. Mustang fans have responded enthusiastically to the planned move, with men's basketball season ticket sales jumping 30% in the last week and hundreds of new football season tickets being sold as well. Notably, the move has immediately raised SMU's profile, with media coverage of the move generating more than $163 million in advertising value in the first three days. In that same small window, SMU also experienced a 103% increase in visitors to its undergraduate admissions homepage.

HEAD COACH ROB LANIER... is in his second season  at SMU after arriving from Georgia State. He has more than 30 years as a collegiate coach, including eight seasons as a head coach. His teams have made 12 NCAA Tournaments and earned 19 total postseason bids. Those teams also have five conference titles, three regular season championships and two tournament crowns, plus five more trips to a league tournament final. 

Following his first season on the Hilltop, which included a runner-up finish at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Lanier brought in a transfer class ranked as high as No. 42 nationally and No. 2 in The American. In August of 2023, the Mustangs went 3-0 in Spain with games in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. The team visited several historic sites including Madrid's Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace as well a tour of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid, the Port of Valencia and a tour at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. 

After arriving at SMU, Lanier was named a training camp coach for the 2022 USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team. He worked with the team in Houston prior to its gold-medal run at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Mexico. 

In his three seasons at Georgia State, the Panthers went 53-30, winning the Sun Belt Tournament in 2022 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers also made the Sun Belt Tournament final in 2021. Additionally, he led GSU to a victory over Georgia Tech, the program's first win over an ACC opponent. The Panthers also claimed the 2019-20 2K Empire Classic Riverside Regional. 

In addition to being the head coach at Georgia State and Siena, he has been associate head coach or an assistant coach at Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Rutgers and his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. Lanier has played a role in signing 10 McDonald's All-Americans, and 11 players that he either signed or coached have become NBA Draft Picks.

SMU BASKETBALL COACHES SHOW PRESENTED BY THE COX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: The SMU Basketball Coaches Show presented by the Cox School of Business features Men's Basketball Head Coach Rob Lanier and Women's Basketball Head Coach Toyelle Wilson beginning Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. at Ozona Grill and Bar. Ozona Grill and Bar is located at 4615 Greenville Ave., just a short distance from the SMU campus. Fans can watch LIVE on the SMU Mustangs Facebook page, or listen on SMUMustangs.com and on the SMU Mobile App. SHOW DATES: Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar. 4,  11

SMU ATHLETICS LAUNCHES STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS DEPARTMENT: As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics announced the creation of a Student-Athlete Success Department for the 2022-23 academic year. This department encompasses all student-development-centered efforts such as Life After Ball, SAAC and community service initiatives. Additionally, it houses NIL Education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming. Due to a generous donation from Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin, SMU Athletics is able to grow staffing in these critical areas in our support of our student-athletes.

BOLD - BIG OPPORTUNITIES LIVE IN DALLAS: As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announced the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, with the goal of helping student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation. BOLD will, among other things, provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The BOLD program incorporates 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. While the acronym BOLD emphasizes SMU's ties to the City of Dallas, the word is also important in its ties to SMU and the University's Brand Promise, which states, "For the bold, curious, and creative, SMU is the comprehensive research university whose enterprising spirit in a vibrant community empowers leaders to tackle grand challenges."

DAVID B. MILLER COURT: On Dec. 5, 2018, SMU named the Moody Coliseum court after David B. Miller, alumnus and current chair of the Board of Trustees. He was a three-year starter on the basketball team and a member of the 1971-72 Southwest Conference Co-Championship team. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Miller and his wife, Carolyn Lacy Miller, have committed over $100 million to SMU, including more than $50 million to the Cox School of Business, $20 million toward the expansion and renovation of Moody Coliseum and $10 million to the ACC Competitiveness Campaign as a member of the First Week Society.