MBB tips off AAC season Tuesday vs. Charlotte at Moody

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs (9-4) begin AAC play at 8 p.m. Tuesday against Charlotte (6-6), trying to extend their current three-game winning streak. SMU improved to 9-4 with an 92-65 road victory at Murray State Dec. 22. Five Mustangs scored in double figures and the defense held MSU to 32.8% from the field. SMU hit 15-23 from three, one make shy of the program record for threes in a game. The Mustangs outscored the Racers, 43-24, in the second half, holding them to 20.0% after the intermission. Samuell Williamson had 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Chuck Harris scored 16 (5-8 on 3FG), Ricardo Wright 12 (4-4 on 3FG), Zhuric Phelps 11 (1-2 on 3FG) and Jalen Smith 11 (3-4 on 3FG). Harris led with five of the team's 22 assists, the second-highest for the team this season.

Williamson was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 26. He averaged 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds while hitting 13-of-20 from the floor in a home wins over Houston Christian and a road victory at Murray State. He is the third Mustang on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll this season, joining Chuck Harris (D18) and Zhuric Phelps (N27).

AAC OPENERS: The Mustangs have won nine straight AAC openers, including a 92-67 home victory over Tulsa last season.

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by preseason All-AAC guard Zhuric Phelps (14.8, 13th AAC) and Chuck Harris (13.9). Phelps is also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals (6th AAC). B.J. Edwards has a team-best 3.9 assists per game (8th AAC) and a 2.68 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th AAC - 51 assists / 19 turnovers). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 6.6 (15th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 5.8.

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: In head coach Rob Lanier's second season on the Hilltop, the Mustangs' defense is holding opponents to 36.3% (1st AAC, 3rd NCAA) from the field, holding 12 of 13 opponents under 42.0%. The three-point defense is 25.8% (1st AAC, 6th NCAA). Opponents are averaging 62.2 points (2nd AAC, 16th NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (4th AAC), 4.8 blocked shots per game (2nd AAC, 39th NCAA) and have a +5.5 in rebound margin (2nd AAC).

[Charleston Pony]

Should be interesting to see how our guys play after the long layoff. This Charlotte team is 0-4 on the road so far this season with their closest loss a 74-71 OT loss vs UCF in Orlando and they are coming off a 79-75 road loss at Stetson. Charlotte is sitting at NET 112 so SMU can't afford a home loss to these guys. Our D has held opponents to 36% shooting while Charlotte shares and protects the ball well and is hitting better than 46% of their shots so far. Hopefully we get a decent crowd and those that come out make some noise and create a home court advantage

[redpony]

forgot we are still playing the aac teams instead of top level ACC teams. guess we will see how good we are or aren't.

[BUS]

Is this on espn?

[PonyFan]

SMU website says ESPN2 (surely the reason for the late start, right?)

[Charleston Pony]

We follow the ECU vs FAU game. Right now ECU is giving FAU fits. Hopefully FAU puts them away timely with no OT and no lengthy finish with the clock stopping and the leader shooting FTs in the last several minutes