SMU (16-7, 7-3 AAC) vs North Texas (13-9, 6-4 AAC)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, February 11, 2024 – 1:00 p.m. CT
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SMU hosts North Texas on Sunday at 1 p.m. This is the first time this season SMU has faced a team for the second time. UNT won the first matchup 68-66 in Denton on Jan. 25.

SMU won its third straight game with a 95-69 road win at Rice on Wednesday. SMU is 11-2 at Moody Coliseum and has seven straight home wins. In the triumph at Rice, five Mustangs scored in double figures as SMU outscored the Owls 69-34 from 3:34 left in the first half. Zhuric Phelps had 16 points, Ricardo Wright 15, Chuck Harris 11, Keon Ambrose-Hylton 10 and Samuell Williamson 10. SMU is 8-0 when at least four score in double figures. SMU dominated in rebounds (39-25), steals (10-1), turnovers (4-12), points off turnovers (21-2), points in the paint (50-20) and bench scoring (48-17). The 95 points is third for SMU in an AAC game and 24 assists tied for fourth as Harris and Phelps each had six helpers.

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 39.0% (1st AAC, 10th NCAA) from the field. The three-point defense is 28.1% (1st AAC, 4th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 64.4 points (2nd AAC, 22nd NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (2nd AAC, 37th NCAA), 5.0 blocked shots per game (1st AAC, 29th NCAA) and have a +5.6 in rebound margin (1st AAC, 42nd NCAA).

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC selection Zhuric Phelps (14.6, 11th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.0). Phelps is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals (5th AAC). Chuck Harris has a team-best 3.6 assists per game (9th AAC) with a 1.91 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th AAC) followed by B.J. Edwards at 3.3 assists (13th AAC) and a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd AAC). Emory Lanier is shooting 42.9% on threes and Harris is hitting 41.5% 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 (3rd AAC). Keon Ambrose-Hylton is averaging 1.0 blocks (13th AAC).

PERFECT BALANCE: The Mustangs are 9-0 this season when at least four score in double figures, including 4-0 in AAC games. SMU has had five in double figures three times this season (at Murray State 12/22, Tulane 2/1, at Rice 2/7).
    
SMU Season 3FG% Defense
—-    .281    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

Scoring margin
1.    14.3 (74.3-60.0)    2016-17
2.    13.9 (77.3-63.4)    2015-16
3.    13.4 (77.6-64.2)    1956-57
—-    12.0    2023-24
4.    11.0 (78.8-67.7)    1955-56
5.    10.4 (82.3-71.8)    1987-88

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: Zhuric Phelps (983 - all at SMU) and Samuell Williamson (988) are both approaching the 1,000-point milestone. Chuck Harris (1265) surpassed it on Nov. 9 vs Lamar.
SMU Career Scoring
Rank    Points    Name, Years
34    1096    Jan Loudermilk, 1959-62
35    1093    Eric Castro, 2001-05
36    1077    Steve Strange, 1958-61
37    1046    John Colborne, 1985-90
38    1041    Gerald Lewis, 1989-93
39    1027    Bobby Mills, 1954-57
40    1026    Kevin Lewis, 1982-86
41    1024    Ethan Chargois, 2017-21
42    1005    Carlton McKinney, 1986-88
43    1003    Markus Kennedy, 2013-16
—-    983    Zhuric Phelps

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 23 games (20 starts)... averaging 7.7 points (10+ 6 times), 4.3 rebounds (career-high 11 vs Tulane 2/1) and 1.0 blocked shots (13th AAC) while shooting 66.9% (2nd AAC, on pace to break SMU season record which is 63.7%) ... 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 23 games (22 starts)... averaging 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists (13th AAC) and 1.1 steals with a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd 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 23 games... averaging 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists (9th AAC) and 1.0 steals while shooting 42.9% on threes (4th AAC) and 84.8% on FTs... Has a 1.91 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th 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: Played 21 games...Averaging 3.8 points and 3.0 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 23 games... Averaging 3.8 points and shooting 42.9% on 3FGs (21-49)... has 21 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 9 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 14.6 points (11th AAC), 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals (5th 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, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while hitting 34.2% on threes (27-79)...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 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 61.9% on FGs (5th 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 6 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 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds (7th AAC), 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals... 4 double-doubles (9th 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 6.1 points (10+ in 3 straight games) and shooting 38.3% on threes (31-81)... 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 34.6% on 3FGs... Had 4 games with 10+ points.

Jackson Young (6-2, 185, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played in 6 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, 95-69 at Rice on Feb. 7): HOUSTON (AP) -- Zhuric Phelps scored 16 points as SMU beat Rice 95-69 on Wednesday night. Phelps had five rebounds and six assists for the Mustangs (16-7, 7-3 American Athletic Conference). Ricardo Wright scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 10, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc. Chuck Harris had 11 points and was 4 of 11 shooting (3 for 7 from 3-point range). Alem Huseinovic led the way for the Owls (9-14, 3-7) with 20 points. Travis Evee added 14 points for Rice. Mekhi Mason also had eight points and four assists. SMU took the lead with 1:05 remaining in the first half and never looked back. Wright led his team in scoring with 10 points in the first half to help put them up 40-37 at the break. SMU pulled away with a 15-0 run in the second half to extend a one-point lead to 16 points.
SECOND HALF
SMU had a 29-4 run that bridged halftime to take a 55-39 lead at 16:13 2nd half
- 14-2 in last 3:34 of the 1st half to take a 40-37 lead at halftime
- Opened second half on a 15-2 run (scored 15 straight after a pair of Rice FTs)
SMU outscored Rice 55-32 in the 2nd half
POSTGAME NOTES
- 95 points in 3rd-highest for SMU in AAC game
- 26 point margin is tied for SMU's 9th-highest in AAC game
- Turnovers: SMU 4 (ties SMU's lowest in AAC game), Rice 12
- Points Off Turnovers: SMU 21, Rice 2
- Fast Break Points: SMU 14, Rice 3
- Assists: SMU 24, Rice 16
- Steals: SMU 10, Rice 1
- Rebounds: SMU 39, Rice 25
- Offensive Rebounds: SMU 13, Rice 6
- Second-Chance Points: SMU 16, Rice 3
- Bench Points: SMU 48, Rice 17

UP NEXT: The Mustangs play at Tulane Thursday before hosting a rematch with Memphis on Sunday. Then the  two-game roadswing at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 22 and South Florida on Feb. 25.

SERIES HISTORY VS NORTH TEXAS (34-18): This is the first season SMU and North Texas are meeting since the 2002-03 season. UNT won the first game 68-66 in Denton on Jan. 25. Before that, SMU had won three straight and nine of the 11 meetings since the 1984-85 season. This is the first meeting in Moody Coliseum since SMU defeated UNT 88-75 on November 29, 2002. The first game in the series dated back to Jan. 9, 1917, when the Mustangs won 25-23 on the road. This will be the first conference game between these two teams. 

LAST MEETING VS NORTH TEXAS (L, 68-66 at UNT on Jan. 25): DENTON, Texas (AP) -- CJ Noland hit a 3-pointer with just under two minutes left and Jason Edwards added two of his 22 points from the free throw line in the final minute as North Texas beat SMU 68-66. Edwards shot 8 for 18 (3 for 9 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free throw line for the Mean Green (12-6, 5-1 American Athletic Conference). Robert Allen scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds. John Buggs III had 12 points and finished 4 of 4 from 3-point range. Zhuric Phelps finished with 22 points for the Mustangs (13-6, 4-2). Tyreek Smith added 13 points for SMU. In addition, Chuck Harris finished with eight points and four assists. North Texas went into halftime ahead of SMU 33-32. Edwards scored 11 points in the half. Buggs' 3-pointer with 4:46 remaining in the second half gave North Texas the lead for good at 56-53.

EARNING A SCHOLARSHIP: During a team meeting in Memphis on January 6, Head Coach Rob Lanier announced that Jackson Young was being awarded a scholarship. Young came to SMU as a walk-on before the 2022-23 season. Jackson Young was featured on NBC's Today Show in the Morning Boost segment on Jan. 13.

NET IMPROVEMENT: SMU is No. 45 in the NCAA NET (Through Feb. 8). That is 164 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: 14 of SMU's 16 wins are by double digits. The two close wins are 80-76 vs Tulane on Feb. 1 and 72-69 vs UAB on Feb. 4.
SMU Season Scoring Margin
1    14.3    2016-17
2    13.9    2015-16
3    13.4    1956-57
—-    12.0    2023-24
4    11.0    1955-56
5    10.4    1987-88

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. 

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY: This season marks 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).

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.

SHARING THE BALL: SMU is averaging 16.2 assists (1st AAC, 35th NCAA) against just 11.4 turnovers. That gives the Mustangs a 1.42 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 50th NCAA). B.J Edwards has a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio this season (3rd AAC) and Chuck Harris has a 1.91 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th AAC).

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.0 rebounds (3rd AAC, 28th NCAA) and 13.6 offensive rebounds (1st AAC, 18th NCAA) with a +5.6 margin (1st AAC, 42nd NCAA). SMU has been +10 or better 9 times this season. Samuell Williamson leads the team at 7.4 (7th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 5.8. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.3 offensive rebounds (6th AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 2.0 (16th 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: 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, 29th NCAA). Tyreek Smith leads the team with 1.6 blocks per game (3rd AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 1.0 (13th AAC).
SMU Season Blocked shots average
1.    5.0 (30 games)    2002-03
—-    5.0    2023-24
2.    4.8 (29 games)    2005-06

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (2nd AAC, 37th 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 - 5th AAC).
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

KE-ON TARGET: Keon Ambrose-Hylton is shooting 66.9% from the field this season (2nd AAC) and Tyreek Smith is at 61.9% (5th 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.
SMU Best Season FG% (Since 1953-54) (Min. 75 Field Goals Made)
—-    66.9 Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Sr.), 2023-24
1    63.7 Terry Williams (Sr.), 1986-87 (142-233)
2    62.1 Jon Koncak (Jr.), 1983-84 (211-340)
3    62.0 Terry Williams (Jr.), 1985-86 (150-242)
—-    61.9 Tyreek Smith (Sr.), 2023-24
4    61.3 Ben Moore (Fr.), 2013-14 (84-137)
5    60.7 Larry Davis (Jr.), 1983-84 (219-361)

THREE ON TARGET: Emory Lanier is shooting 42.9% from three and Chuck Harris is at 41.5% (4th AAC).


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 (W), South Florida and Wichita State (L). The American Men's Basketball Championship is March 13-17 (Wednesday-Sunday) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

MUSTANGS GO 3-0 IN SPAIN: SMU finished 3-0 on its 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 and shooting 62.5% (20-32). Zhuric Phelps added 15.7 points while totaling seven assists and six steals in the three contests. B.J. Edwards led with 6.0 assists 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.

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 141 career steals, which is 9th at SMU. He is averaging 2.0 this season (5th 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.

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.

COACHSPEAK.NET: Head Coach Rob Lanier runs the site as a platform for coaches from all levels across all sports to express themselves on a wide range of topics. It began as an idea in the spring of 2016 and became a reality in 2017. This is a not a site about Strategy, Instruction or Coaching philosophy but it certainly can and will explore those areas. This is a site about people. Coach Lanier has also written articles for the site:
TWO STEP by Rob Lanier 
https://www.coachspeak.net/two-step-by-rob-lanier/
RECALLING MY NBA DAYS…ALL 5 OF THEM by Rob Lanier
https://www.coachspeak.net/recalling-my-nba-days-all-5-of-them-by-rob-lanier/

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)

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.