NIT Live Updates: SMU at No. 1 Indiana State
SMU (20-12) at No. 1 Indiana State (28-6)
Hulman Center – Terre Haute, Indiana
Tuesday, March 20, 2024 – 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
Gameday Central | Live Stats
SMU Notes | ISU | American
Click HERE to join the LIVE THREAD on the On The Pony Express message board.
About SMU: Junior guard Zhuric Phelps was named All-American Athletic Conference Second Team. Phelps is averaging team bests of 14.7 points (13th AAC) and 1.9 steals (5th AAC) while also recording 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Mustangs are led in scoring by Phelps (14.7, 131th AAC), Chuck Harris (13.2), Samuell Williamson (8.6) and Tyreek Smith (8.1). Last time out, No. 11 seed Temple stormed back in the second half to defeat No. 6 seed SMU, 75-60, in the second round of the 2024 AAC Tournament. SMU led 43-36 with 15:17 remaining, but Temple went on a 27-6 run to take a 63-49 lead. Harris was lost with an ankle injury for much of the game, but on Tuesday, he said he’ll be good to go for the NIT matchup. SMU’s lost five of its last six games
About Indiana State: Indiana State, the regular season Missouri Valley Conference champions were left out of the NCAA Tournament, despite a 28-6 record. Drake beat Indiana State to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, stealing Indiana State’s bid. All five Sycamore starters scored double-digits in the championship game paced by Jayson Kent’s 22-point, nine-rebound performance. Isaiah Swope finished with 19 points (all in the second half), while Robbie Avila contributed 15 points and seven rebounds. Ryan Conwell (13 points, seven rebounds) and Julian Larry (10 points, five assists) were also in double-digits. Avila is a 6-10, 240-pound big man who leads ISU in scoring with 17.5 points per game and is second in rebounding at 6.6 per game behind Kent’s 8.1 per game.
SMU and ISU have met just once, with the Sycamores winning 80-53 in Terre Haute during the 1947-48 season.
Up Next: With a win, SMU would face Minnesota, who upset 4-seed Butler Tuesday night.
