SMU (8-2) vs LSU (8-1)
Comerica Center – Frisco, Texas
Saturday, December 14, 2024 – 3 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Audio Streaming: SMU Mobile App | The Varsity Network | SiriusXM 382
Gameday Central | Live Stats | Ticket Info | Directions & Parking
SMU Notes | LSU | ACC
SMU Basketball Yearbook | SMU Digital Game Program
Facebook | X / Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
The Hilltop Hoops Show Presented By The Cox School Of Business Begins Dec. 16 At 7pm At Ozona Grill & Bar

Mustangs Deliver ACC Debut Victory Over Virginia

SMU faces LSU in the Compete 4 Cause Classic at Comerica Center in Frisco on Saturday. This is the first of a two-game series with the second matchup in New Orleans next season. 

The Mustangs enter the game 8-2 overall and on a four-game winning streak after a 63-51 home victory over Virginia in the ACC opener on Dec. 7. SMU finished the game on a 25-6 run over the last 10:08, holding the Cavaliers without a field goal in that time. The Mustangs held Virginia to 34.0% shooting and finished with a 36-25 rebound advantage. Kario Oquendo led SMU with a season-high 21 points, hitting 4-of-6 on threes. Samet Yiğitoğlu also scored a season-high 16 points (7-8 FGs). Matt Cross had 10 rebounds for his sixth straight game with at least eight boards. Oquendo and Yiğitoğlu each had six rebounds for SMU.

SMU is averaging 85.8 points (2nd ACC, 21st NCAA) while shooting 47.6% (3rd ACC) overall and 36.2% on threes (4th ACC). The Mustangs are leading the ACC in rebound margin (+10.4, 12th NCAA), total rebounds (42.6, 14th NCAA), offensive rebounds (14.5, 19th NCAA) and bench points (34.2, 19th NCAA). SMU is second in the ACC in assists per game (16.1), fifth in steals (8.0) and sixth in blocked shots (4.2). 

Boopie Miller is averaging 14.9 points (15th ACC), 5.6 assists (2nd ACC, 36th NCAA) and 1.7 steals (11th ACC) with a 2.43 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th ACC). Chuck Harris is next in scoring at 12.2 while hitting 42.9% from three. B.J. Edwards is averaging 9.9 points, 3.3 assists (15th ACC) and 2.4 steals (2nd ACC). The Mustangs have four averaging double-figure scoring and seven above eight points per game with Samet Yiğitoğlu (11.6), Kario Oquendo (11.6), Yohan Traore (8.4) and Matt Cross (8.1). Matt Cross is leading the Mustangs in rebounding (7.8, 9th ACC) followed by Samet Yiğitoğlu (6.5, 14th ACC) and Yohan Traore (4.9).

First-year head coach Andy Enfield took the helm of the SMU program following 11 seasons at USC, where he led the Trojans to five of the last eight NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2021. He took over an SMU program that finished last season 20-13 after earning an NIT bid. That was the Mustangs' sixth postseason berth in the past 10 possible postseasons, including two NCAA bids and four NITs.

INAUGURAL ACC SEASON: SMU begins its first season in the ACC. SMU's inaugural ACC home slate includes Virginia (Dec. 7, W 63-51), Duke (Jan. 4), Georgia Tech (Jan. 11), Louisville (Jan. 21), Cal (Jan. 29), Stanford (Feb. 1), Pitt (Feb. 11), Wake Forest (Feb. 15), Clemson (Feb. 22) and Syracuse (Mar. 4). The Mustangs' road ACC contests are Boston College (Dec. 21), North Carolina (Jan. 7), Virginia (Jan. 15), Miami (Jan. 18), N.C. State (Jan. 25), Virginia Tech (Feb. 5), Notre Dame (Feb. 19), Cal (Feb. 26), Stanford (Mar. 1) and Florida State (Mar. 8). The ACC Men's Basketball Tournament is March 11-15 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: The Mustangs have an 11-game non-conference schedule that includes six teams that made the postseason last year. The slate included a home matchup with Mississippi State, who has made the Top 25 (L, 84-79 11/22), a neutral-site game versus LSU (Dec. 14 at Comerica Center in Frisco), and a road game at Butler (L, 81-70 on 11/15). The Mustangs won the Acrisure Holiday Invitational Nov. 26-27 (W, 79-77 vs Cal Baptist 11/26; W, 77-60 vs Washington State 11/27). The Butler game started a home-and-home that includes a game at Moody Coliseum in 2025-26, and the LSU game is a two-game neutral-site series that includes a game in New Orleans in 2025-26. Mississippi State, Washington State and Longwood made NCAA tournament appearances last season while Butler and LSU were in the NIT. Tarleton State (W, 96-62 11/4) earned a CIT bid while UNC Greensboro (W, 81-68 on 11/11) was a 21-win team last season.

LAST GAME (W, 63-51 vs Virginia on Dec. 7): DALLAS (AP) -- Kario Oquendo scored 21 points and SMU held Virginia without a field goal over the final 10 minutes of a 63-51 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday. It was the Mustangs' first conference game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU led by two points at halftime, then Virginia's Isaac McKneely converted a four-point play and followed it up with a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 45-38 lead with just over 10 minutes to go. They did not make another field goal. The Cavaliers missed their final nine shots but were still behind by only three points with 2 1/2 minutes to go. But they did not score again, missing three shots and not attempting a free throw. They had three turnovers in that final stretch. Samet Yigitoglu had 16 points and Matt Cross grabbed 10 rebounds for SMU. McKneely led Virginia (5-4, 0-1 ACC) with 17 points. Chuck Harris hit a 3-pointer for a 28-19 SMU lead with 5 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Virginia then hit three 3-pointers in four attempts and closed to within 30-28 at halftime. Yigitoglu made 6 of 7 shots and scored 14 points in the first half. 
Postgame Notes: 
- First ACC game and WIN for SMU (SMU has won 11 straight conference openers)
- SMU outscored Virginia 25-6 last 10:08 of the game (Virginia was 0-9 on FGs in that time)

UP NEXT: The Mustangs playe their first ACC road game at Boston College on Dec. 21. SMU closes the calendar year with a home game against Longwood on Dec. 29 before resuming ACC play with [4/6] Duke at Moody Coliseum on Jan. 4.

SERIES VS. LSU (3-2) (+2-2): This is the first contest since the 2014 NIT second round. The Mustangs advanced 80-67 en route to the NIT title game. The home team has prevailed in each of the previous five meetings. This is the first neutral-site meeting. The first four matchups came in four consecutive seasons between 1962-66. (+ win in 2013-14 vacated)

LAST MEETING VS LSU (W, 80-67 vs. LSU on March 24, 2014 - NIT Second Round): DALLAS (AP) -- SMU relied on one of the nation's stingiest defenses to have the program's best season since 1987-88. That defense got a boost from the Mustangs' hot-shooting offense in the second half of an 80-67 victory against LSU in the second round of the NIT on Monday night. SMU rallied from a 10-point, first-half deficit and shot a sizzling 64.3 percent in the second half to pull away down the stretch. SMU's balanced offense was led by Nick Russell (16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4 of 5 on 3-pointers) and Nic Moore (16 points on 6 of 9, including 2 of 3 on treys). LSU (20-14) was led by Johnny O'Bryant III's 16 points. Andre Stringer scored 15 -- all on 3s. Russell, a senior who played his first two collegiate seasons at Kansas State, also led SMU with seven rebounds. LSU initially quieted Moody Coliseum's eighth sellout crowd. An alley-oop pass from Anthony Hickey to Jarell Martin gave the Tigers a 38-28 lead with 3:35 to play in the half. But the Mustangs found their footing, pulled within 40-35 at the half, then used a 26-9 run to put the game out of reach. SMU's largest lead was 17 points. 

SERIES VS. BOSTON COLLEGE (1-0): The only previous meeting was a 62-49 victory in the Suntory Ball Classic in Tokyo, Japan on Dec. 19, 1986.

ACC EXPERIENCE: Boopie Miller was at Wake Forest last season where he averaged 15.6 points (13th ACC), 3.5 assists (12th ACC), 1.4 steals (10th ACC). Matt Cross was at UMass the past two season after playing his freshman season at Miami (2020-21) and his sophomore year at Louisville (2021-22).

ACRISURE HOLIDAY INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS (Nov. 26-27): SMU dominated the second half in a 77-60 victory over Washington State to win the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, California the night before Thanksgiving. Boopie Miller was named the tournament MVP, averaging 16.0 points and 5.0 assists, which included the game-winning shot with 2.1 seconds left in the 79-77 semifinal win over Cal Baptist. In the victory over Washington State, SMU outscored the Cougars 50-29 in the second half to claim the title. Five Mustangs scored in double figures, led by Boopie Miller with 16 points and five assists. The Mustangs had a 51-25 rebound advantage with Samet Yiğitoğlu recording his first double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Matt Cross finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. 

BALANCING ACT: The Mustangs had at least five players in double figures in six games: 11/4 vs Tarleton St (6 - First time SMU had six score 10+ since 12/17/15 vs Hampton), 11/7 FAMU (5), 11/18 Prairie View A&M (5), 11/22 Mississippi State (5), 11/27 vs Washington State (5), 12/3 Alabama State (7 - First time since at least 2004).

BEST IN PROGRAM HISTORY: Four-star prospects Jermaine O'Neal, Jr., Jaden Toombs and Nigel Walls have signed to play at SMU beginning with the 2025-26 season, Head Coach Andy Enfield announced today. The 2025 signing class is ranked as high as No. 6 nationally, the highest in program history. Walls (6-10, F), from St. Francis Episcopal in Houston, is ranked as high as No. 57 nationally. Toombs and O'Neal Jr. are teammates are Dynamic Prep in Irving, where Toombs (6-10, C) is rated as high as No. 38 nationally and O'Neal Jr. (6-5, F) is listed as high as No. 88 nationally.
- SMU Class Rankings | #6 ESPN | #13 On3 | #7 247 Sports
- Jermaine O'Neal, Jr. (Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas) | 4-star | #88 ESPN | #111 On3 | #126 247 Sports
- Jaden Toombs (Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas) | 4-star | #38 ESPN | #45 On3 | #47 247 Sports
- Nigel Walls (St. Francis Episcopal in Houston, Texas) | 4-star | #62 ESPN | #57 On3 | #58 247 Sports

CAPTAINS: The captains for the 2024-25 season are Keon Ambrose-Hylton, Chuck Harris and Boopie Miller.

DOUBLE FIGURES: Nine Mustangs have scored in double figures multiple times this season: Boopie Miller (8), B.J. Edwards (7), Chuck Harris (6), Kario Oquendo (6), Samet Yiğitoğlu (6), Keon Ambrose-Hylton (3), Yohan Traore (4), Matt Cross (3), Jerrell Colbert (1).

FLOOR EXPERIENCE: Five Mustangs have played in 100 or more NCAA D-I games: Chuck Harris (126), Tibet Görener (112), Kario Oquendo (106), Keon Ambrose Hylton (104), and Matt Cross (104).

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: Four Mustangs have reached the 1,000-point milestone: Chuck Harris (1,515), Kario Oquendo (1,216), Boopie Miller (1,162) and Matt Cross (1,063). 

CENTURY MARK: SMU scored 110 points in the win over Prairie View A&M 11/18. That's the most since 11/20/99 vs Hardin-Simmons (W, 110-69). That ties for 14th-highest in program history. The 41-point margin ties for 18th in program history and is the most since 43 vs Texas A&M-Commerce 12/3/23 (W, 90-47). The Mustangs also scored 102 in the victory over Florida A&M on Nov. 11 (102-73) and 101 in the win over Alabama State on Dec. 3 (101-72). This is the most 100-point games since 1992-93 (6 times).

KE-ON TARGET: Keon Ambrose-Hylton is at 60.0% on FGs this season after he shot an SMU-record 64.1% from the field in 2023-24.
SMU Best Season FG% (Since 1953-54) (Min. 75 Field Goals Made)
1.    64.1    Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Sr.), 2023-24 (98-153)
2.    63.7    Terry Williams (Sr.), 1986-87 (142-233)
3.    62.1    Jon Koncak (Jr.), 1983-84 (211-340)
4.    62.0    Terry Williams (Jr.), 1985-86 (150-242)
5.    61.3    Ben Moore (Fr.), 2013-14 (84-137)
6.    60.7    Larry Davis (Jr.), 1983-84 (219-361)
7.    60.2    Sterling Brown (Jr.), 2015-16 (109-181)

MEN OF STEALS: SMU is averaging 8.0 (5th ACC). B.J. Edwards is leading at 2.4 steals (2nd ACC, 32nd NCAA). Boopie Miller is averaging 1.7 per contest (11th ACC).

MOODY MAGIC: SMU has successfully defended home court in 73 of 85 (.859) regular-season non-conference games at Moody Coliseum since the renovation and expansion for the 2013-14 season. SMU is 1-0 in ACC home games. In 11 seasons in the American Athletic Conference, SMU went 77-22 (.766) at Moody Coliseum, including 8-1 last season.

SUPER SUB: Kario Oquendo started the first five games of the season, but has entered as a reserve the past five games. He has scored in double figures in each game since coming off the bench, averaging a team-best 15.6 points in that time while shooting 62.8% overall and 62.5% on threes (15-24).

STREAKS:
10+ points: Kario Oquendo 5 (13, 14, 11, 20, 21), Samet Yiğitoğlu 3 (12, 12, 16)
Longest This Season: Boopie Miller 8 (11/4 - 11/27)
8+ rebounds: Matt Cross 6 (12, 9, 8, 10, 10, 10)
Long: Matt Cross 6+ (11/18 - )
Dbl-Dbl: 
Long: Yohan Traore (11/7), Matt Cross (11/18; 12-3), Samet Yiğitoğlu (11/27)
5+ assists: 
Long: Boopie Miller 4 (11/22 - 12/3) (7x total)
2+ steals: B.J. Edwards (2, 4), Boopie Miller (2)
Long: B.J. Edwards 3 (11/4 - 11/11)
2+ blocks: 
Long: Samet Yiğitoğlu 3 (11/18 - 11/26)

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-9, 220, F, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played all 10 games...4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 47.2% FGs ... 2023-24: Played all 33 games (20 starts)... Averaged 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks... Shot an SMU season-record 64.1%... SMU SEASON RECORD: FG% (64.1%, 1st).

Jerrell Colbert (6-10, 235, F, Jr.) | 2024-25: Played all 10 games...3.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks (8th ACC), 57.9% FGs... 2023-24 (Kansas State): Averaged 2.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks as the Wildcats went 19-15 overall, earning a trip to the NIT.

Matt Cross (6-7, 230, F, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played 9 games... 8.1 points, 7.8 rebounds (9th ACC), 1.4 assists, 32.1% 3FGs, 2 double-doubles... 2023-24 (UMass): NABC All-District Selection… Atlantic 10 First-Team Selection… Averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals… Hit 54.0% field goals, 32.9% threes, and 79.8% free throws.

B.J. Edwards (6-3, 185, G, Jr.) | 2024-25: Started all 10 games... averaging 9.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.4 steals (2nd ACC, 21st NCAA), 33.3% on 3FGs... 2023-24:  Played all 33 games (30 starts)... Averaged 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists with a 2.43 assist-to-turnover ratio.

AJ George (6-6, 190, G, Jr.) | 2024-25: Played in 5 games... 2023-24 (Long Beach State): Played in all 36 games, averaging 10.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game as LBSU won the Big West Tournament and made the NCAA Tournament… Shot 53.3% on field goals, 34.4% on threes and 72.1% on free throws.

Tibet Görener (6-9, 205, F, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played 8 games... 2023-24 (San Jose State): Started all 32 games… Averaged 11.4 points and 3.9 rebounds…Hit 33.9% on threes…totaled 25 assists, 15 steals and 11 blocks

Chuck Harris (6-4, 190, G, Sr.): 2024-25: Played all 10 games... 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio... 2023-24:  Played and started 32 of 33 games... Averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 assists (9th AAC) and 3.2 rebounds while hitting 40.7% on threes (5th AAC) and 81.8% on free throws... Had a 1.77 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th AAC)… Team-high 18 points and reached 1,000 for his career vs Lamar 11/9... HONORS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D18).

Mitchell Holmes (6-11, 215, F, Fr.) | 2023-24 ( Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri): The three-star signee was ranked in the top 10 overall in Missouri and top 70 at his position nationally... Before attending Link Academy, the McDonald's All-American nominee scored more than 1,500 points at The Oakridge School in Arlington.

Niccolo Kalischer-Stork (6-3, 190, G, Fr.) | 2023-24 (Harvard-Westlake School): Played as a guard for the Wolverines as the team went 91-9 from 2021-24… As a senior in 2023-24, averaged 3.2 points per game.

Boopie Miller (6-0, 175, G, Jr.) | 2024-25: Started all 10 games... 14.9 points (15th ACC), 5.6 assists (2nd ACC, 36th NCAA), 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals (11th ACC), 2.43 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th ACC), 83.7% FTs (7th ACC)... HONORS: Acrisure Holiday Invitational MVP...2023-24 (Wake Forest): One of three players to start all 35 games... Averaged 15.6 points (2nd WF, 13th ACC), 3.5 assists (12th ACC), 1.4 steals (10th ACC)... Shot 84.5% on free throws (131-155, 6th ACC) and 46.4% on field goals (11th ACC)

Kario Oquendo (6-4, 220, G, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played all 10 games... 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 54.1% on 3FGs, 2.0 made 3s pare game (9th ACC)... 2023-24 (Oregon):  Averaged 7.2 points (.459 FG%), 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.7 minutes per game … Played in 36 games making three starts | 2022-23 (Georgia): Averaged 12.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists playing 25.4 minutes per game for the Bulldogs.

Chance Puryear (6-7, 190, F, Fr.) | 2023-24: He was named TABC 4A All-State at Carter High School in Dallas...District 13-4A Player of the Year and a 2024 McDonald's All-American Game Southwest Nominee.

Yohan Traore (6-11, 235, F, Jr.) | 2024-25: Started all 10 games... 8.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1 double-double... 2023-24 (UC Santa Barbara): Played and started in 30 of 31 games… Averaged 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 58.3% from the field and 68.6% at the free-throw line.

Trey Utter (6-0, 160, G, Jr.) | 2024-25... Played 2 games... 2023-24: Played in 7 games.

Samet Yiğitoğlu (7-2, 265, C, Fr.) | 2024-25: Played/started 8 games... 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds (14th ACC), 1.0 blocks (13th ACC), 63.6% FG, 1 double-double... 2023-24: Averaged 13.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and shot 82.6% on FGs in four games with Sigortam Istanbul in the Turkey in 2023-24… Sigortam finished tied for first at 28-6 in the Turkish second division…Played for Turkey in the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship in Greece, averaging 12.7 points and 8.6 rebounds while hitting 66.0% on FGs (33-50).

Jackson Young (6-2, 185, G, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played 2 games... 2023-24: Played in 8 games.

HEAD COACH ANDY ENFIELD... was named SMU's Head Men's Basketball on April 1, 2024. A proven winner, Enfield burst onto the coaching scene in 2013 when, in his second year as a head coach, he guided Florida Gulf Coast to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Following that success, he was hired by the University of Southern California (USC), where he led the Trojans to five of the last eight NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2021. 

He came to SMU after 11 seasons at USC, where he compiled a 220-147 record. Enfield quickly brought success to the basketball program upon his arrival, as the Trojans set a school single-season win record and posted the most wins in program history over two-year, three-year, four-year, five-year, six-year, seven-year and eight-year periods. Enfield's 220 wins ranks third on USC's all-time wins list, trailing only Sam Barry (260) and Forrest Twogood (251). In 13 seasons as a head coach Enfield has a 261-175 mark. 
 
His teams also excelled in the classroom by setting the program's top team GPAs. Enfield brought in eight consecutive Top-30 recruiting classes, with the 2022 class ranking No. 7 and the 2023 class ranking No. 4.
 
Over his final seven seasons at USC, the Trojans had eight players selected in the NBA Draft, tied for the fifth-most by any program in the country, with Evan Mobley going No. 3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and Onyeka Okongwu being selected No. 6 in the 2020 Draft. USC was one of three teams to have had at least one player selected in six of the last seven NBA Drafts. In total, 11 players during Enfield's time at USC have made the NBA.

HILLTOP HOOPS SHOW: The Hilltop Hoops Show presented by the SMU Cox School of Business features SMU Men's Basketball Head Coach Andy Enfield and Women's Basketball Head Coach Toyelle Wilson on Mondays 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 also catch LIVE video on the SMU Mustangs Facebook page, or listen on SMUMustangs.com and on the SMU App.
Hilltop Hoops Show Dates
Mon. Dec. 16 (MBB at Boston College 12/21 | WBB at North Texas 12/19, vs Chicago State 12/20)
Mon. Dec. 30 (MBB vs Duke 1/4 at North Carolina 1/7 | WBB vs Stanford 1/2, vs Cal 1/5)
Mon. Jan. 13 (MBB at Virginia 1/15, at Miami 1/18 | WBB vs North Carolina 1/16, at Notre Dame 1/19)
Mon. Jan. 20 (MBB vs Louisville 1/21, at NC State 1/25 | WBB vs Duke 1/23, at Miami 1/26)
Mon. Jan. 27 (MBB vs Cal 1/29, vs Stanford 2/1 | WBB vs Louisville 1/30, at Virginia Tech 2/2)
Mon. Feb. 3 (MBB at Virginia Tech 2/5 | WBB at Georgia Tech 2/6, vs Pitt 2/9)
Mon. Feb. 10 (MBB vs Pitt 2/11, vs Wake Forest 2/15 | WBB vs Clemson 2/16)
Mon. Feb. 17 (MBB at Notre Dame 2/19, vs Clemson 2/22 | WBB at Wake Forest 2/20, at Boston College 2/23)
Mon. Feb. 24 (MBB at Cal 2/26, at Stanford 3/1 | WBB vs Virginia 2/27, vs NC State 3/2
Mon. Mar. 3 (MBB vs Syracuse 3/4, at Florida State 3/8 | WBB ACC Tournament 3/5-3/9)