[20/21] SMU 69, Temple 56
The American Athletic Conference Championship – Semifinals
#1 SMU (26-6, 15-3), #4 Temple (23-10, 13-5)
XL Center
Hartford, Connecticut
The American Championship Notes:
SMU will face the winner of #2 Tulsa and #6 Connecticut in the Championship on Sunday at 3:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. CT on ESPN
SMU is advances to first conference tournament championship since 1988 (Southwest Conference)
· Defeated Baylor 75-64 – SMU’s only conference tournament title
SMU Notes:
SMU is 26-6 overall – Tied for third most wins in a season (26-4 in 1955-56 under E.O. Doc Hayes)
· Won 24 of the last 27 games
SMU is 2-0 in neutral site games this season
· 7-6 under Larry Brown in neutral site games
Starting Five: Nic Moore, Ryan Manuel, Sterling Brown, Cannen Cunningham and Yanick Moreira
Head Coach Larry Brown
· 1722-1225 all-time (40th season: includes NBA, ABA, USA Basketball and NCAA)
· 245-94 in NCAA (10th season)
o 11-5 in NCAA conference tournament games
· 68-33 at SMU (3rd season)
o 2-2 in SMU conference tournament games
Series Notes:
SMU is 4-3 all-time against Temple – SMU swept the regular season (Won 60-55 at Temple on Jan. 14; won 67-58 at SMU on Feb. 19)
· 1-0 in conference tournament games
SMU overcame double-digit deficits in each game against Temple this season
Offensive Notes:
SMU trailed by 10 in the first half (17-7; 11:17) but closed half on an 8-2 run. Halftime score: SMU 26, Temple 28.
SMU took its first lead (35-34) on Markus Kennedy free-throws at 16:40 in the second half
· SMU outscored Temple 43-28 in the second half
SMU opened the second half 7-for-8 from the field; held Temple to 4-for-11
SMU had a FG% Margin of 18.2 (FG% Margin = FG% - FG% Defense)
· Entered with FG% Margin of 10.2 (48.4 - 38.2 = 10.
SMU was 4-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
· Entered with 3FG% of 36.2
SMU was 15-25 on FT (60.0 FT%)
· Entered with FT% of 70.5
SMU had 15 assists on 25 field goals
· Entered with 15.7 apg
SMU had 3 players score 10+ points
· #15 Markus Kennedy 17 pts
· #2 Yanick Moreira 11 pts
· #15 Cannen Cunningham 11 pts
SMU held the lead with 5 minutes left (59-50) for the 23rd time (23-0 in those games)
· 62-2 under Larry Brown when leading with 5 minutes left
SMU had more points in the paint (24-18) for the 29th time (24-5 in those games)
· 60-23 under Larry Brown when outscoring opponent in the paint
SMU had more bench points (26-17) for the 21st time (20-1 those games)
· 48-8 under Larry Brown when scoring more bench points
Defensive Notes:
SMU held opponent under 70 points for the 26th time (24-2 in those games)
· 63-14 under Larry Brown when holding opponent under 70 points
SMU held opponent at or below 40% shooting (29.3%, 17-58 FG) for the 19th time (18-1 in those games)
· Entered with 38.4 FG% defense
SMU outrebounded opponent (45-32) for the 27th time (24-3 in those games)
· Rebound margin of +13
o Entered with rebound margin of 6.5
· 58-15 under Larry Brown when outrebounding opponent
SMU Individual Notes:
#11 Nic Moore (G, Jr.): 7 points (3-14 FG), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
· The American Player of the Year
· 5+ assists in 22 games
#2 Yanick Moreira (C, Sr.): 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-3 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals
· The American Most Improved Player
· 10+ points in 20 games
· 8+ rebounds in 13 games
#15 Cannen Cunningham (C, Sr.): 11 points (5-8 FG), 4 rebounds
· 10+ points in 8 games
#5 Markus Kennedy (F, Jr.): 17 points (4-7 FG, 9-12 FT), 9 rebounds
· The American Sixth Man of the Year
· 10+ points in 12 games
· 8+ rebounds in 5 games
#3 Sterling Brown (G, So.): 8 points (2-4 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
· 8+ rebounds in 6 games
Next:
The American Athletic Conference Championship - Finals
SMU will face No. 2 Tulsa or No. 6 Connecticut – Sunday, March 15 – 3:15 p.m. ET/ 2:15 p.m. CT – Hartford, Connecticut – XL Center
TV: ESPN (Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke)
Radio: KAAM 770 AM (Rich Phillips, Allen Stone)
