SMU (15-7, 6-3 AAC) at Rice (9-13, 3-6 AAC)
Tudor Fieldhouse – Houston, Texas
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. CT
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SMU goes on the road for a contest at Rice on Wednesday. The Mustangs have won two straight and nine of their last 12 after getting home wins over Tulane (80-76) on Thursday and UAB (72-69) on Sunday. 

In the win over UAB, SMU rallied from down 12 (57-45) for the 72-69 victory. The Mustangs made a late 16-2 run to take a 70-65 edge, finishing on a shot-clock beating 3-pointer by Ricardo Wright. Zhuric Phelps then hit a pair of free throws with 3.9 seconds left to seal the win. Four Mustangs scored in double figures in the win with Phelps, Samuell Williamson and Chuck Harris each adding 14 points while Wright contributed 10 points. SMU had just seven turnovers and recorded 12 steals with eight Mustangs recording at least one takeaway. Tyreek Smith had a career-high five blocks as the team finished with eight. Harris and Phelps each had five of the Mustangs' 19 assists.

ELITE DEFENSE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs' defense is among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 38.7% (1st AAC, 7th NCAA) from the field, holding 16 opponents under 42.0%. The three-point defense is 27.5% (1st AAC, 4th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 64.2 points (3rd AAC, 21st NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (1st AAC, 43rd NCAA), 5.0 blocked shots per game (1st AAC, 23rd NCAA) and have a +5.2 in rebound margin (1st AAC, 47th NCAA).

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (14.5, 12th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.1). Phelps is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals (4th AAC). Chuck Harris has a team-best 3.5 assists per game (11th AAC) with a 1.81 assist-to-turnover ratio (11th AAC) followed by B.J. Edwards at 3.4 assists (13th AAC) and a 2.78 assist-to-turnover ratio (11th AAC). Harris is shooting 41.4% on threes (4th AAC). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 7.4 (7th AAC) with 10+ in five games. Tyreek Smith is averaging 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks (4th AAC). Keon Ambrose-Hylton is averaging 1.0 blocks (13th AAC).

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 22 games (20 starts)... averaging 7.6 points (10+ 5 times), 4.4 rebounds (career-high 11 vs Tulane 2/1) and 1.0 blocked shots (13th AAC) while shooting 65.5% (3rd AAC) ... 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: Played all 22 games (21 starts)... averaging 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists (13th AAC) and 1.1 steals with a 2.78 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 22 games... averaging 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists (11th AAC) and 1.0 steals while shooting 41.4% on threes (4th AAC) and 84.8% on FTs... Has a 1.81 assist-to-turnover ratio (11th AAC)...Has 1 double-double (18 points, 10 assists) vs Tulsa 1/20... 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 3.6 points and 3.1 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: Played all 22 games... Averaging 3.7 points and shooting 42.2% on 3FGs (19-45)... has 19 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 8 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 14.5 points (12th AAC), 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals (4th AAC) with 10 total blocks and hitting 77.9% on FTs (16th AAC, 81-104)... 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 5.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists while hitting 34.7% on threes (26-75)...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 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks (4th AAC) while shooting 61.5% on FGs (6th AAC) and 69.5% on FTs (41-59)...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 5 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 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds (7th AAC), 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals... 4 double-doubles (8th AAC)... 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 5.7 points (6+ in 10 of past 11 games) and shooting 37.0% on threes (27-73)... 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 5 games... SCHOLARSHIP: During a team meeting on Jan. 6, Head Coach Rob Lanier announced that Jackson Young was awarded a scholarship... 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.

LAST GAME (W, 72-69 vs UAB on Feb. 4): DALLAS (AP) -- Samuell Williamson had 14 points in SMU's 72-69 victory over UAB on Sunday night. Williamson added six rebounds for the Mustangs (15-7, 6-3 American Athletic Conference). Chuck Harris scored 14 points and added five assists. Zhuric Phelps shot 4 for 10 and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. Efrem Johnson led the Blazers (14-8, 6-3) in scoring, finishing with 20 points. UAB also got 10 points from Christian Coleman. Yaxel Lendeborg also recorded nine points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Williamson scored six points in the first half for SMU, who led 32-27 at the break. SMU pulled off the victory after an 8-0 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 70-65 with 57 seconds remaining in the half. Harris scored 10 second-half points.
CLOSING TIME
16-2 run to go up 70-65 with 55 seconds left (finished on Ricardo Wright 3-pointer)
SMU trailed 57-45 with 9:35 left (finished the game 27-13)
Zhuric Phelps hit 2 FTs with 3.9 seconds left
POSTGAME NOTES
- SMU 9-3 in past 12 games
- 7 straight home wins, 11-2 at Moody Coliseum
- Steals: SMU 12, UAB 3
- Points In The Paint: SMU 40, UAB 28
- Fast Break Points: SMU 14, UAB 10
- SMU had 4 score 10+ | 7-0 this season with at least 4 in double figures

UP NEXT: The Mustangs host the rematch with North Texas on Feb. 11 after dropping a 68-66 decision at UNT on Jan. 25. The Mustangs then have a trip to Tulane on Feb. 15 followed by a home matchup with Memphis on Feb. 18.

THE SERIES VS. RICE (120-77): This is the 198th meeting with the Mustangs leading 120-77. That is the most games and wins for SMU against any opponent. The Mustangs hold a 69-24 series edge in Dallas while it is even at 49-49 in Houston. This is the fourth league the teams have shared. The two teams were members of the Southwest Conference from 1918-19 to 1995-96, with SMU going 94-58 in regular-season games and 3-3 in SWC Christmas Tournament matchups. SMU was 11-7 in regular season WAC contests from 1996-97 to 2004-05, losing the only WAC Tournament contest. In Conference USA from 2005-06 to 2012-13, SMU was 10-6 during the season and the programs split a pair of C-USA Tournament meetings.

LAST MEETING VS RICE (W, 67-55 at SMU on Feb. 27, 2013): DALLAS (AP) -- Shawn Williams scored 17 points and Cannen Cunningham added 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead SMU to a 67-55 victory against Rice. Nick Russell had 13 points for the Mustangs, who shot 57 percent from the floor and enjoyed a 40-23 rebounding edge. Tamir Jackson scored 20 points and Max Guercy 16 for the Owls, who lost their seventh straight. Rice was on an uphill climb for much of the game, thanks to a first-half stretch of 6:48 in which it didn't score. SMU led 35-20 at the break.

NET IMPROVEMENT: SMU is No. 48 in the NCAA NET (Through Feb. 4). That is 161 spots better than the end of 2022-23 (No. 209). That is the 9th-largest improvement from the end of 2022-23 through Feb. 1.

LEAVE NO DOUBT: SMU's first 13 wins of the season were by double digits. The next two were 80-76 vs Tulane on Feb. 1 and 72-69 vs UAB on Feb. 4..

SO CLOSE: Five of SMU's seven losses this season are by five points or less. The Mustangs lost 77-72 at Wichita State on Jan. 28, 68-66 at North Texas on Jan. 25, 62-59 at [15/15] Memphis on Jan. 7, 76-74 at Arizona State on Dec. 6 and 65-63 to Dayton on Nov. 29. 

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 crowd 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 4,906 from 3,916 last season.

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: Zhuric Phelps (967 - all at SMU) and Samuell Williamson (978) are both approaching the 1,000-point scoring milestone. Chuck Harris (1254) surpassed it on Nov. 9 vs Lamar.

SHARING THE BALL: SMU is averaging 15.9 assists (1st AAC) against just 11.7 turnovers. That gives the Mustangs a 1.35 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC).
SMU Season Best Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
1.    1.74    1986-87
2.    1.71    1987-88
3.    1.50    2016-17
4.    1.42    2015-16
5.    1.37    1985-86
—-    1.35    2023-24
SMU Season Fewest Turnovers Per Game
1.    10.8    2016-17
2.    11.0    2018-19
3.    11.6    1996-97
    11.6    2017-18
—-    11.7    2023-24
5.    12.0    1998-99

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.0 rebounds (2nd AAC, 25th NCAA) and 13.6 offensive rebounds (1st AAC, 17th NCAA) with a +5.2 margin (1st AAC, 47th NCAA). SMU has been +10 or better 8 times this season. Samuell Williamson leads the team at 7.4 (7th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 5.8. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.2 offensive rebounds (11th AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 2.1 (17th 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)
SMU Season Rebound Margin
1.    10.2 (39.4-29.3)    2015-16
2.    8.7 (38.1-29.5)    2016-17
3.    8.4 (37.2-28.8)    1988-89
4.    6.7 (36.6-29.9)    2014-15
5.    5.7 (48.5-42.8)    1959-60
—-    5.2    2023-24
6.    5.0 (46.5-41.5)    1958-59
7.    4.8 (36.0-31.3)    2013-14
8.    4.6 (38.1-33.5)    1984-85
9.    4.3 (43.3-39.0)    1999-00

BLOCK PARTY: The Mustangs had 12 blocked shots in the win over Houston Christian. That ties for fourth in program history. Seven Mustangs had a block. Keon Ambrose-Hylton and Tyreek Smith each had three. SMU is averaging 5.0 blocks for the season (1st AAC, 23rd NCAA). Tyreek Smith leads the team with 1.6 blocks per game (4th AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 1.0 (13th AAC).
SMU Single-Game Blocks
- 13 San Jose St., 2-6-2003
- 13 Hardin-Simmons, 1-6-1999
- 13 Midwestern State, 12-29-2014 (W, 70-61)
- 12 Houston, 2-12-1979
- 12 UT-Tyler, 11-19-2004 (W 76-61)
- 12 Houston Christian, 12-19-2023 (W, 89-53)
SMU Season Blocked shots average
1.    5.0 (30 games)    2002-03
—-    5.0    2023-24
2.    4.8 (29 games)    2005-06
3.    4.6 (27 games)    1978-79
    4.6 (30 games)    2015-16
5.    4.5 (33 games)    1984-85
    4.5 (37 games)    2013-14
    4.5 (17 games)    2020-21

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (1st AAC, 43rd NCAA). SMU recorded 17 in the win over Western Illinois on Nov. 8 (T-3rd program history) and has 10 or more 6 times. Ten different Mustangs have at least 7 steals this season, led by Zhuric Phelps (2.0 - 4th AAC).
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
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
—-    8.5    2023-24
4.    8.3 (28 games)    1992-93
    8.3 (30 games)    1998-99
6.    7.8 (30 games)    2002-03

KE-ON TARGET: Keon Ambrose-Hylton is shooting 65.5% from the field this season (3rd AAC) and Tyreek Smith is at 61.5% (6th AAC) this season. In the 90-47 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3, Keon Ambrose-Hylton scored 19 points, going 9-9 on FGs. The Mustangs shot 69.2% from the field in that victory, which is fourth in program history. He was the first Mustang to be perfect from the floor on at least 9 attempts since Semi Ojeleye was 9-9 vs Tulsa 3/2/17. In the 80-76 win over Tulane on Feb. 1, Tyreek Smith was 8-9 on FGs, tying for fifth in an AAC game for SMU with at least 8 made FGs.

THE SCHEDULE: SMU went 9-4 against a non-conference schedule highlighted by home games against Dayton (L, 65-63) and then-[13/15] Texas A&M (L, 79-66), road match-ups with Arizona State (L, 76-74) and Florida State (W, 68-57) plus the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off with West Virginia (W, 70-58 - semifinal) and Wisconsin (L, 69-61 - championship). SMU plays five AAC opponents twice: ECU (W at ECU), Memphis (L at UM), North Texas (L at UNT), Tulane (W at SMU) and UAB (W at SMU). The Mustangs will play home games only against Charlotte (W), Temple (W), Tulsa (W) and UTSA, and play road games only versus [20/22] Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Florida and Wichita State (L). The American Men's Basketball Championship is March 13-17 (Wednesday-Sunday) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 139 career steals, which is T-9th at SMU. He is averaging 2.0 this season (4th 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
    4    197    Jeryl Sasser, 1997-01
    5    179    Stephen +Woods, 1996-00
    6    160    Willie Davis, 1997-01
    7    153    Quinton Ross, 1999-03
    8    144    Jon Killen, 2004-08
    9    139    Sterling Brown, 2013-17
        139    Zhuric Phelps, 2021-

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.