How to watch: SMU takes on Temple in AAC Tournament

No. 6 SMU (20-11, 11-7 AAC) vs. No. 11 Temple (12-19, 5-13 AAC) OR No. 14 UTSA (11-20, 5-13 AAC)
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, Texas
Thursday, March 14, 2024 – 8 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SMU finished the regular season 20-11 overall and 11-7 in the American Athletic Conference to tie for fifth.. The Mustangs are the No. 6 seed in the AAC Championship at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth and will play on Thursday at 8 p.m. versus the winner of No. 11 Temple and No. 14 UTSA. With a win, SMU would face No. 3 Charlotte in the quarterfinal on Friday at 8 p.m. The Mustangs are 9-6 in The American Championship, winning the title in 2015 and 2017.

ZHURIC PHELPS – ALL-AAC SECOND TEAM: Junior guard Zhuric Phelps was named All-American Athletic Conference Second Team. Phelps is averaging team bests of 14.8 points (12th AAC) and 1.9 steals (5th AAC) while also recording 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is hitting 75.0% on free throws (20th AAC) and has 13 blocked shots. He has scored in double figures in 28 of 31 games this season, including 14 straight to finish the conference season.

HEAD COACH ROB LANIER IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS: He has a 12-6 record in conference tournament games and has won two championships. He led Georgia State to the 2022 Sun Belt Tournament title by winning three games in three days. His 2001-02 Siena team won four games in four days to claim the 2002 MAAC Championship.

ELITE DEFENSE: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs’ defense is ranked among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 40.5% (1st AAC, 22nd NCAA) from the field. The three-point defense is 30.9% (1st AAC, 29th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 67.6 points (3rd AAC, 60th NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (1st AAC, 29th NCAA), 4.9 blocked shots per game (1st AAC, 22nd NCAA) and have a +5.4 rebound margin (1st AAC, 33rd NCAA).

AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS: The Mustangs are also in the top 60 nationally in several other categories. SMU is averaging 15.8 assists (1st AAC, 37th NCAA), 14.7 offensive rebounds (1st AAC, 4th NCAA) and 27.7 bench points (3rd AAC, 25th NCAA) while having a 1.42 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 49th NCAA). The Mustangs have a 9.3 scoring margin on the season (2nd AAC, 41st NCAA) and a 2.0 turnover margin (4th AAC, 57th NCAA).

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by All-AAC Second Team selection Zhuric Phelps (14.8, 11th AAC), Chuck Harris (13.3), Samuell Williamson (8.7) and Tyreek Smith (8.1). Phelps is also averaging 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals (5th AAC). Chuck Harris has a team-best 3.4 assists per game (10th AAC) with a 1.72 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th AAC) followed by B.J. Edwards at 3.0 assists. Chuck Harris is hitting 39.6% on threes (7th AAC) and Ricard Wright is hitting 37.7% from long range (11th AAC). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 7.4 (7th AAC) with 10+ in seven games. Tyreek Smith is averaging 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 591% on FGs (6th AAC). Keon Ambrose-Hylton is hitting 64.9% from the floor (4th AAC) and averging 0.9 blocked shots (14th AAC).

ALMOST PERFECT BALANCE: The Mustangs are 12-2 this season when at least four score in double figures, including 7-2 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, at Tulane 2/15, Memphis 2/18).

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 31 games (20 starts)… averaging 7.2 points (10+ 7 times), 4.2 rebounds (career-high 11 vs Tulane 2/1) and 0.9 blocked shots (14th AAC) while shooting 64.9% (4th 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 31 games (29 starts)… averaging 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal with a 2.30 assist-to-turnover ratio…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 30 of 31 games (missed 3/2 vs UTSA)… averaging 13.3 points (20+ 3 times), 3.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists (10th AAC) and 1.0 steal while shooting 39.6% on threes (7th AAC) and 81.3% on FTs… Has a 1.72 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th 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 29 games…Averaging 4.8 points (season-high 14 in win vs North Texas 2/11) and 3.2 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 31 games… Averaging 3.6 points and shooting 38.8% on 3FGs (26-67)… has 25 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 12 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: All-AAC Second Team … Played all 31 games (30 starts)… Averaging 14.8 points (12th AAC), 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals (5th AAC) with 13 total blocks and hitting 75.0% on FTs (20th AAC) (10-10 on FTs in the win vs ECU 3/6)… Reached 1,000 career points during he win at Tulane 2/15… Recorded 100th career steal in the win vs Western Illinois 11/8…AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N27, F12), 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: Played all 31 games… averaging 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while hitting 37.5% on threes (39-104)…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: Played all 31 games (11 starts)…Averaging 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 59.1% on FGs (6th AAC)…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 7 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: Started all 31 games… Averaging 8.7 points, 7.4 rebounds (7th AAC), 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals… 4 double-doubles (10th AAC)… AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D26, F19)… Reached 1,000 career points during the win at Tulane 2/15… 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.) | 2023-24: Played in 30 games (missed 2/11 vs North Texas)… Averaging 7.0 points (10+ in 10 games) and shooting 37.7% on threes (7th AAC) (46-122)… 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 7 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 (L, 74-70 at UAB on March 10): BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Eric Gaines finished with 22 points and scored the final five points of the game at the free-throw line to rally UAB to a 74-70 victory over SMU on Sunday night, closing out the regular season of the American Athletic Conference.Gaines’ run of foul shots came after Efrem Johnson sank a pair to give SMU a 70-69 lead with 1:14 left to play. Gaines added six steals for the Blazers (20-11, 12-6). Christian Coleman posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. added 16 points while going 5 of 7 and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line while they also had 10 rebounds. Alejandro Vasquez scored 14. Zhuric Phelps finished with 18 points to lead the Mustangs (20-11, 11-7). Chuck Harris added 17 points and Tyreek Smith scored 10. Vasquez scored 12 points to help UAB take a 33-29 lead into halftime. Gaines scored 15 after the break.

SERIES VS. TEMPLE (12-8) (11-8+): SMU has won five of the past six matchups against Temple and lost just six of 18 matchups since they became American Athletic Conference foes. SMU swept 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2020-21. The teams split 2013-14, 2019-20 and 2022-23. That AAC mark includes an SMU win in the 2015 AAC Semifinal. Prior to the AAC, they last me when Temple defeated SMU 90-81 in the third place game of the NCAA tournament on March 23, 1956. The first game in the series came Jan. 7, 1938 when Temple won 53-41 at home. (+ win in 2013-14 vacated)

LAST MEETING VS TEMPLE (W, 77-64 vs Temple on Jan. 16): DALLAS — — Chuck Harris’ 18 points helped SMU defeat Temple 77-64 on Tuesday night. Harris was 5 of 10 shooting, including 4 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line for the Mustangs (12-5, 3-1 American Athletic Conference). Samuell Williamson scored 17 points while shooting 7 of 11 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line, and added 12 rebounds. B.J. Edwards finished 4 of 4 from the field to finish with 10 points, while adding six assists and three steals. Jahlil White led the way for the Owls (8-10, 1-4) with 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Shane Dezonie added 14 points for Temple. In addition, Matteo Picarelli had 10 points. SMU opened the game on a 15-0 run before Temple rallied and closed to within 30-28 at halftime. A 7-0 run in the second half turned a one-point deficit into a six-point lead for SMU.
POSTGAME GAME NOTES
– SMU has won 6 of its past 7 games
– 8-2 at Moody Coliseum
– All 12 of SMU’s wins this year are by double figures
– FG%: SMU 42.9% (60.0% in 2nd half), Temple 36.9% (Finished game 1 of last 11 on FGs)
– Assists: SMU 18, Temple 13
– FTs: SMU 22-25, Temple 9-12