SMU (10-4, 1-0 AAC) at [15/15] Memphis (12-2, 1-0 AAC)
FedEXForum – Memphis, Tennessee
Sunday, January 7, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. CT
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SMU visits No. 15 Memphis on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs have won four straight games enter the matchup 10-4 overall after a 66-54 AAC-opening win over Charlotte on Tuesday.

In the win over Charlotte, SMU trailed 10-2 in the first four minutes before holding the 49ers to 34 points over the next 30 minutes. The Mustangs outrebounded the 49ers 45-31 and held them to 34.0% shooting. Zhuric Phelps had a team-high 13 points with six rebounds and two steals. Samuell Williamson followed with 12 points and six boards. Tyreek Smith had a season-high 11 rebounds with nine points and two blocked shots.
MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (14.7, 13th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.2). Phelps is also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals (6th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.8 assists per game (8th AAC) and a 2.65 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 6.6 (15th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 6.2.

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs' defense is among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 36.2% (1st AAC, 2nd NCAA) from the field, holding 13 of 14 opponents under 42.0%. The three-point defense is 26.1% (1st AAC, 6th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 61.6 points (2nd AAC, 12th NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.3 steals (4th AAC), 5.0 blocked shots per game (2nd AAC, 34th NCAA) and have a +6.1 in rebound margin (2nd AAC).

SMU Season FG% Defense
1.    .345 (498-1443)    1953-54
—-    .362    2023-24
2.    .364 (656-1804)    1957-58
3.    .367 (766-2087)    1955-56
4.    .373 (609-1631)    1958-59
5.    .380 (609-1602)    1961-62
    
SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—-    .261    2023-24
1.    .298 (210-705)    2021-22
2.    .305 (120-394)    1987-88
3.    .308 (203-660)    2011-12
4.    .314 (157-500)    1992-93
5.    .321 (248-773)    2013-14
    .321 (282-878)    2016-17

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 14 games... averaging 8.6 points (10+ 5 times) and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 74.0%...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.) | 2023-24: Redshirting this season following a stress reaction in his left foot... 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 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists (8th AAC) and 1.3 steals with a 2.65 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC)...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. 2022-23 at Tennessee: Played 14 games for a team that made the NCAA Sweet 16.

Xavier Foster (7-0, 225, F, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played 4 games... 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 14 games... averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 42.6% on threes (29-68) and 81.3% on FTs (26-32)... Scored 1,000th career point in the win vs Lamar 11/9... AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D18) | 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 3.9 points and 3.4 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 4.6 points and shooting 44.1% on 3FGs (15-34)... has 15 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.) | 2023-24: Played 6 games... 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 14.7 points (13th AAC), 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals (6th AAC) with 8 total blocks... Recorded 100th career steal in the win vs Western Illinois 11/8...AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N27), Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, 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 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while hitting 38.6% on threes (17-44)...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 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks (5th AAC) while shooting 61.5% on FGs and 71.1% on FTs (27-38)...Has 2 double-doubles... 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.) | 2023-24: Played in 4 games... 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 8.7 points, 6.6 rebounds (15th AAC) and 1.8 assists...AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D26)... 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.) | Averaging 4.1 points and shooting 38.9% on threes (14-36)... 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.) | 2023-24: Played in 4 games... 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.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: This week was the 10th anniversary of the opening of the renovated Moody Coliseum. The remodeled facility made its basketball debut on Jan. 4, 2014 with a matchup against then-No. 17/15 UCONN, giving the Huskies a 74-65 loss. Since the renovation, SMU was been ranked or receiving votes in eight of those seasons getting as high as No. 8, won two AAC championships and made five postseasons (2 NCAA, 3 NIT).

AAC OPENERS: The Mustangs defeated Charlotte 66-54 on Jan. 2 for their 10th straight win in AAC openers.

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.

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. The SMU home attendance this season is up to 4,672 from 3,916 last season.

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.7 rebounds (2nd AAC) and 13.3 offensive rebounds (2nd AAC) with a +6.1 margin (2nd AAC). SMU has been +10 or better 7 times this season. Samuell Williamson leads the team at 6.6 (15th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 6.2 and Zhuric Phelps at 4.8. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.3 offensive rebounds (11th AAC) and Keon Ambrose-Hylton is getting 2.1 offensive boards (14th AAC). 5X5: Four times this season, SMU has had at least 5 Mustangs record 5+ rebounds (Western Illinois 11/8, at Arizona State 12/6, at Florida State 12/16, Charlotte 1/2)

BLOCK PARTY: SMU is averaging 5.0 blocks for the season (2nd AAC / 34th NCAA). Tyreek Smith leads the team with 1.6 blocks per game (5th AAC).

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 8.3 steals (4th AAC). SMU recorded 17 in the win over Western Illinois on Nov. 8 (T-3rd program history) and has 10 ore more four times. Ten different Mustangs have a steal this season, led by Zhuric Phelps (1.9 - 6th AAC), B.J. Edwards (1.3), Tyreek Smith (0.9) and Chuck Harris (0.9).
SMU Season Steals Average
1.    9.3 (30 games)    1999-00
2.    8.6 (28 games)    2004-05
3.    8.5 (35 games)    1987-88
4.    8.3 (28 games)    1992-93
    8.3 (30 games)    1998-99
—-    8.3    2023-24
6.    7.8 (30 games)    2002-03

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 122 career steals, which is 19th at SMU. He is averaging 1.9 this season (6th AAC). 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.
SMU Career Steals
    1    225    Bryan Hopkins, 2002-06
    2    209    Gerald Lewis, 1989-93
    3    205    Carl Wright, 1982-85
    —-
    10    136    Jemeil Rich, 1994-97
        136    Nic Moore, 2013-16
    12    130    Butch Moore, 1982-86
    13    128    David Piehler, 1979-83
    14    127    Roderick Hampton, 1987-91
    15    126     Justin Isham, 2001-05
        126    Kato Armstrong, 1985-89
    17    125    Phil Hale, 1976-80
    18    123    Troy Matthews, 1993-97
    19    122    Zhuric Phelps, 2021-

LAST GAME (W, 66-54 vs Charlotte on Jan. 2): DALLAS (SMU) – SMU used a 17-3 run in the first half to take a 19-13 lead and never looked back in a 66-54 victory over Charlotte in both teams American Athletic Conference Opener at Moody Coliseum on Tuesday. After Charlotte built an early 10-2 lead, SMU dominated the rest of the way, holding the 49ers to 34.5% shooting for the game. The Mustangs also had a 45-31 rebound advantage with eight steals and seven blocked shots. SMU dominated in the paint, 40-20, and in bench points, 26-12. Zhuric Phelps led the Mustangs with 13 points and a pair of steals. Samuell Williamson added 12 points and six rebounds. Tyreek Smith had a season-high 11 rebounds, nine points and two blocks. Lu'cye Patterson led Charlotte with 19 points.
POSTGAME GAME NOTES
- SMU has won 4 straight game (average margin of 21.5 in the streak)
- FG%: SMU 43.5%, Charlotte 34.0% (held 13 of 14 opponents under 42%)
- Rebounds: SMU 45, Charlotte 31 (+14, 7th game this year at least a +10)
- Bench Points: SMU 26, Charlotte 12
- SMU outscored Charlotte 40-20 in the paint

UP NEXT: The Mustangs are on the road at East Carolina on Jan. 13 before hosting Temple on Jan. 16 and Tulsa on Jan. 20.

THE SERIES VS MEMPHIS (15-18 on Court) (+14-18 Official): SMU dropped both meetings last season, 
but has won five of the past nine and 11 of the past 17 matchups. The Mustangs had won six straight with sweeps in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 before dropping the only matchup in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The Mustangs swept Memphis en route to the 2016-17 AAC title, opening conference play with a 58- 54 win at Memphis before rounding off the regular season with a 103-62 rout to claim the outright conference title on Senior Day. The Mustangs have lost 4 of the 16 regular-season matchups against Memphis since both teams joined The American.

LAST MEETING VS MEMPHIS (L, 81-62 vs [rv/-] Memphis on March 2, 2023): DALLAS (AP) -- Kendric Davis totaled 23 points and 10 assists to propel Memphis to an 81-62 victory over SMU on Thursday night. Davis added four steals for the Tigers (23-7, 13-4 AAC). Damaria Franklin hit three 3-pointers and scored 15. DeAndre Williams had 13 points. Zach Nutall led the Mustangs (10-20, 5-12) with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Samuell Williamson added 14 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Zhuric Phelps had 10 points. Memphis took the lead with 13:09 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 50-37 at halftime. 

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

2023-24 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     N27 - Zhuric Phelps (19.0 pts, 6.3 rebs, 2.0 asts, 2.0 stls in 2-1 week)
     D18 - Chuck Harris (24 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts in win at Florida State)
     D26 - Samuell Williamson (14.0 pts, 10.5 rebs, 2.0 asts, 13-20 FGs in 2-0 week)
- Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team - Zhuric Phelps (18.0 pts, 7.5 rebs, 2.0 asts, 2.0 stls)
- Preseason All-American Athletic Conference - Zhuric Phelps (2nd Team)
2022-23 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (returnees):
- American Athletic Conference Player of the Week
     D26 - Zhuric Phelps (19.7 pts, 5.7 rebs, 3.0 asts, 1.7 stls in 3 games at Diamond Head Classic)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     N28 - Zhuric Phelps (20.0 pts, 6.0 rebs, 4.0 asts, 2.5 stls, 2.0 blks in 2 games)
     J2 - Samuell Williamson (17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal vs Tulsa)
     F13 - Zhuric Phelps (22.5 pts, 3.0 rebs, 5.0 asts, 5.5 stls in 2 games, game-winning FT vs Temple)
     F20 - Zhuric Phelps (18.5 pts, 5.5 rebs, 7.5 asts, 2.5 stls, 5-9 3FGs in 2 games
- Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team
     D22-25 - Zhuric Phelps (19.7 pts, 5.7 rebs, 3.0 asts, 1.7 stls in 3 games)
2021-22 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (returnees):
- American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week
     D13 - Zhuric Phelps (13 pts, 2 rebs, 2 stls, 1 ast, 6-8 FG, 1-1 3FG in win vs Dayton)