NIT – Second Round
No. 1 SMU (24-10) vs No. 4 Oklahoma State (16-17)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, March 23, 2025 – 2 p.m. CT
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Edwards, Mustangs Rally Past UNI In NIT First Round
SMU Defeats Northern Iowa 73-63 In NIT First Round

No. 1 seed SMU hosts No. 4 seed Oklahoma State in the second round of the NIT on Sunday. The Mustangs are 24-10 on after advancing with a 73-63 win over Northern Iowa in the first round Wednesday.

SMU had a 21-7 run in the middle of the second half to pull away for the 73-63 win against UNI. B.J.  Edwards led the Mustangs with 16 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals as he set the SMU single-season steals record (now at 82). Chuck Harris had 12 points and five assists, Kario Oquendo scored 12 with seven rebounds and Yohan Traore added 11 points to give SMU four double-digit scorers for the 25th time this season.

SMU is averaging 79.8 points (3rd ACC, 42nd NCAA) while shooting 48.0% (2nd ACC, 32nd NCAA) overall and 37.3% on threes (3rd ACC, 30th NCAA). The Mustangs are also leading the ACC in steals (8.0, 58th NCAA). SMU is second in total rebounds (38.6, 30th NCAA), third in fastbreak points (12.9, 44th NCAA), second in the ACC in rebound margin (+5.8, 24th NCAA), second in offensive rebounds (12.4, 49th NCAA), second in assists (15.7, 56th NCAA), second in bench points (24.6, 62nd NCAA), fourth in scoring margin (+8.9, 40th NCAA) and third in field-goal defense (41.0%, 43rd NCAA). SMU is one of 12 teams in the top 50 nationally in field-goal percentage and field-goal defense (Auburn, Bradley, Central Conn. St., Creighton, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Liberty, McNeese, Yale).

Boopie Miller is averaging 13.2 points (26th ACC), 5.5 assists (4th ACC, 33rd NCAA) and 1.6 steals (9th ACC) with a 2.50 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd ACC, 44th NCAA). Chuck Harris is next in scoring at 12.7 (29th ACC) while hitting 41.8% from three. B.J. Edwards is averaging 10.0 points (51st ACC), 3.6 assists (11th ACC) and 2.4 steals (1st ACC, 10th NCAA). Matt Cross has six double-doubles (8th ACC) and is leading the Mustangs in rebounding (7.6, 6th ACC) while adding 11.8 points (38th ACC). The Mustangs are one of two teams with six scoring in double figures (Ole Miss) with Kario Oquendo (10.6, 47th ACC) and Samet Yiğitoğlu (10.0, 52nd ACC). Yiğitoğlu is second for SMU in rebounds (6.1, 17th ACC), double-doubles (3, 21st ACC) and leading the Mustangs in blocked shots (1.0, 15th ACC). 

Junior guard Boopie Miller was named All-ACC Third Team and junior guard B.J. Edwards was selected to the ACC All-Defensive Team. Edwards also received votes for Most Improved Player and senior guard Kario Oquendo received votes for Sixth Man of the Year.

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 previous eight NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2021. He has led the Mustangs to a No. 1 seed in the NIT in his first year on the Hilltop. Coach Enfield has led teams to eight of the potential 13 postseasons during his 14 seasons as a head coach, including seven of the past nine, and has a 9-7 postseason record.

This is the seventh postseason berth for the Mustangs in the past 11 possible postseasons, including two NCAA bids and five NITs. The Mustangs have earned a spot in the NIT in four of the past five seasons. 

NIT FIRST ROUND (W, 73-63 vs. Northern Iowa on March 19): DALLAS (AP) -- B.J. Edwards had 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in SMU's 73-63 victory over Northern Iowa on Wednesday night in the NIT. SMU advances to face Oklahoma State in the second round. Kario Oquendo added 12 points while going 4 of 9 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) while he also had seven rebounds for the Mustangs (24-10). Chuck Harris shot 4 for 11, including 2 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points. Trey Campbell finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Panthers (20-13). Tytan Anderson added 14 points and four assists. SMU entered halftime up 33-32. Samet Yigitoglu paced the team in scoring in the first half with seven points. Matt Cross' layup with 10:14 left in the second half gave SMU the lead for good at 54-52.

THE SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA STATE (6-20): The 26 meetings in the series date back to the 1921-22 season, with the first 11 meetings as Southwest Conference rivals through the 1924-25 season. The last meeting was a 68-58 double-overtime loss at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Dec. 28, 2011. The most recent meeting at Moody Coliseum was a 76-57 loss to sixth-ranked OSU on Nov. 29, 2004. SMU has dropped 10 straight matchups in the series dating back to the 1991-92 season. The last SMU win was a 78-71 triumph in Oklahoma City on Dec. 27, 1985. 

LAST MEETING VS OKLAHOMA STATE (L, 68-58 2OT on Dec. 28, 2011): DALLAS (AP) -- Cezar Guerrero scored seven of his 14 points at the start of the second overtime and Oklahoma State defeated SMU 68-58 Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Cowboys (7-5) closed the game with a 16-0 run, with the final six points in the first overtime before outscoring SMU 10-0 in the second extra period. SMU (7-5) had matched its biggest lead of the game when Robert Nyakundi made three free throws for a 58-52 advantage with 1:17 left in the first overtime. Keiton Page then made two 3-pointers in a span of 33 seconds, with a miss by Nyakundi between those shots. Guerrero opened the second overtime with a 16-foot jumper, then made a 3-pointer and had a driving layup to stretch the lead to 65-58. Page led Oklahoma State with 27 points. Nyakundi had 20 points and 11 rebounds for SMU.

ACC AWARDS: Junior guard Boopie Miller was named All-ACC Third Team and junior guard B.J. Edwards was selected to the ACC All-Defensive Team. Edwards also received votes for Most Improved Player and senior guard Kario Oquendo received votes for Sixth Man of the Year.

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. 

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS: Matt Cross, Chuck Harris and Boopie Miller are among the NCAA's active career leaders. Cross is 61st in rebounds (797); Harris is 42nd in points (1,826), 41st in threes made (273); while Miller is 69th in scoring (14.2), 64th in assists (439) and 38th in assists average (4.53).

ASSISTS: SMU is second in the ACC in assists at 15.7 (56th NCAA). Boopie Miller is averaging 5.5 (4th ACC, 33rd NCAA). B.J. Edwards is next for the Mustangs at 3.6 (11th ACC). 

ASSISTS 2.0: B.J. Edwards has a 2.12 assist-to-turnover ratio in his career at SMU. That ranks sixth among those averaging at least 3.0 assists per game. Boopie Miller at 2.50 (3rd ACC, 44th NCAA) and B.J. Edwards at 1.92 (12th ACC).

BALANCING ACT: The Mustangs have had at least five players in double figures in 13 games (12-1), at least six with 10+ three times (4-0) and seven at 10+ twice (2-0):

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. All three are McDonald's All-American Game nominees.
- 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

BOARDROOM: SMU is +5.8 in rebounding this season (2nd ACC / 24th NCAA) with 10 games of +10 or better and four games of +20 or better. The Mustangs average 12.4 offensive rebounds (2nd ACC / 49th NCAA).

BUZZER-BEATERS X3: The Mustangs have won three games in the closing seconds. Keon Ambrose-Hylton had a tip-in with 2.9 seconds left for the 77-75 win over Syracuse at Moody Coliseum on March 4. Boopie Miller has a pair of late-game winners this season. He hit a right-wing 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left for a 54-52 win at Virginia on Jan. 15. He also hit a 10-foot running jumper with 2.1 seconds left for a 79-77 win over Cal Baptist in the Acrisure Hilday Invitational semifinal on Nov. 26.

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

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Freshman center Samet Yiğitoğlu is averaging 10.0 points (52nd ACC), 6.1 rebounds (17th ACC), 2.3 offensive rebounds (12th ACC) and 1.0 blocks (15th ACC) while shooting 53.9% from the field and recording three double-doubles (21st ACC). He had a career-high 20 points, including 4-4 on free throws in the final two minutes to seal the 63-57 win at NC State on Jan. 25. Both were 1-and-1 situations, sinking a pair at 1:59 and again with 18 seconds left. 

CENTURY MARK: SMU has scored at least 100 points five times this season (plus a 96, a 97 and a 98), which is the most since the 1992-93 season (6 times). The Mustangs' 117-74 win at Miami set program records for points in a road game (was 112 at Arkansas 2/13/1971) and points in a league game (was 116 vs TCU 1/5/1977). The 117 points tied for sixth-highest in program history and was the most in an ACC game since Wake Forest scored 119 in 3OT at North Carolina in 2003 and the most in an ACC game in regulation since 1983 (130 by NC State at Wake Forest). The Mustangs previously won 103-77 at Boston College 12/21, 110-69 over Prairie View A&M 11/18, 102-73 over Florida A&M 11/11 and 101-72 over Alabama State 12/3.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS: Matt Cross is leading the Mustangs at 7.6 rebounds per game (6th ACC). He has six double-doubles this season (8th ACC) and is averaging 11.8 points (38th ACC). He had a career-high tying 16 rebounds in the win versus LSU on Dec. 14. The 16 rebounds were the most by a Mustang since 19 by Jordan Tolbert against Hampton on 12/17/15. He is also 11th in the ACC with 2.4 offensive rebounds per game, grabbing season highs of seven against Washington State and LSU.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Matt Cross (6, 8th ACC), Samet Yiğitoğlu (3, 21st ACC), Yohan Traore (2), Boopie Miller (2), B.J. Edwards (1). Five is the most different Mustangs with a double-double since 2019-20 (6).

DOUBLE FIGURES: Nine Mustangs have scored in double figures multiple times this season: Matt Cross (25), Chuck Harris (25), Boopie Miller (21), Samet Yiğitoğlu (19), Kario Oquendo (19), B.J. Edwards (18), Yohan Traore (8), Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6), Jerrell Colbert (2).

FLOOR EXPERIENCE: Five Mustangs have played in 125 or more NCAA D-I games: Chuck Harris (150), Tibet Görener (133), Kario Oquendo (130), Keon Ambrose-Hylton (128), and Matt Cross (128).

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: Four Mustangs have reached the 1,000-point milestone: Chuck Harris (1,826), Kario Oquendo (1,460), Boopie Miller (1,382) and Matt Cross (1,379).

INAUGURAL ACC SEASON (13-7): SMU finished tied for fourth in its inaugural ACC season. The home slate (6-4) included Virginia (W, 63-51), [4/4] Duke (L, 89-62), Georgia Tech (W, 93-71), [25/rv] Louisville (L, 98-73), Cal (W, 76-65), Stanford (W, 85-61), Pitt (W, 83-63), Wake Forest (L, 77-66), [18/17] Clemson (L, 79-69) and Syracuse (W, 77-75). The Mustangs' road ACC contests (7-3) were Boston College (W, 103-77), North Carolina (L, 82-67), Virginia (W, 54-42), Miami (W, 117-74), N.C. State (W, 63-57), Virginia Tech (W, 81-75), Notre Dame (W, 97-73), Cal (W, 81-77), Stanford (L, 73-68) and Florida State (L, 76-69). 

LEADING BY COMMITTEE: Six Mustangs have led the team in scoring this season: Chuck Harris (11x), Boopie Miller (9x), Matt Cross (7x), Kario Oquendo (6x), Samet Yiğitoğlu (3x), B.J. Edwards (2x)

MEN OF STEALS: SMU is leading the ACC at 8.0 (58th NCAA). B.J. Edwards is leading SMU at 2.4 steals (1st ACC, 10th NCAA). Boopie Miller is averaging 1.6 per contest (9th ACC).

POWER MOVE: SMU is 24-10 (.706) after going 13-7 (.650) in the ACC. That is tied for the most wins, second-highest winning percentage and tied for the second-best league win percentage among teams that changed leagues in the Power 4.

RUN, RUN: The Mustangs have 29 runs of at least 10-0 this season, going 18-2 in games when they have at least one run of at least 10-0.

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-9, 220, F, Sr.) | 2024-25: Played all 34 games...4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 57.0% FGs ...GAME-WINNER: Tip-in with 2.9 second left for the 77-75 win against Syracuse on senior night 3/4... 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 32 of 34 games...2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 63.6% 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: ACC Player of the Week (Dec. 16)... Played 33 of 34 games... 11.8 points (38th ACC), 7.6 rebounds (6th ACC), 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 49.1% FGs, 37.4% 3FGs, 6 double-doubles (8th ACC) ... 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: ACC All-Defensive Team and received votes for ACC Most Improved Player... Started all 34 games... averaging 10.0 points (51st ACC), 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists (11th ACC), 2.4 steals (1st ACC, 10th NCAA), 1.92 assist-to-turnover ratio (12th ACC), double-double... 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 21 games...2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds... 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 29 games (1 start)...1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds... 2023-24 (San Jose State): Started all 32 games… 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 33.9% on threes…totaled 25 assists, 15 steals and 11 blocks

Chuck Harris (6-4, 190, G, Sr.): 2024-25: Played all 34 games (18 starts)... 12.7 points (29th ACC), 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, 41.8% on 3FGs, 2.2 made threes per game (9th ACC)... 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: All-ACC Third Team, Acrisure Holiday Invitational MVP.... Played/started 28 of 34 games (missed 2/15, 2/19, 2/22, 2/26, 3/1, 3/19 - injury)... 13.2 points (26th ACC), 5.5 assists (4th ACC, 33rd NCAA), 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals (9th ACC), 2.50 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd ACC, 44th NCAA), 81.6% FTs (13th ACC), 2 double-doubles ... GAME WINNERS: Game-winning right-wing 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left at Virginia for 54-52 win 1/15... 10-foot running jumper wtih 2.1 seconds left for 79-77 win vs Cal Baptist 11/26...  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: Received votes for ACC Sixth Man of the Year... Played all 34 games (11 starts)... 10.6 points (47th ACC), 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 40.8% on 3FGs... 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: Played 31 of 34 games (missed 2/1, 2/11, 2/15 due to injury)... 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 50.8% FGs, 2 double-doubles... 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 5 games... 2023-24: Played in 7 games.

Samet Yiğitoğlu (7-2, 265, C, Fr.) | 2024-25: Played/started 31 games... 10.0 points (52nd ACC), 6.1 rebounds (17th ACC), 1.0 blocks (15th ACC), 53.9% FG, 3 double-doubles (21st ACC)... 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 7 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.