SMU Postgame Notes – Feb. 23, 2014
[RV/RV] SMU 64 , [21/21] Connecticut 55
SMU (22-6, 11-4 American), Connecticut (21-6, 9-5 American)
Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, Conn.
Facebook – /SMUMustangs, /SMUBasketball
Twitter – @SMUMustangs, @SMUBasketball, @LarryBrownSMU, #PonyUp
YouTube.com/SMUMustangsAthletics
NEXT GAME:
SMU will begin a two-game homestand when it hosts UCF in the Mustangs sixth sellout of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT
Audio: KAAM 770 AM
TV: ESPNews
SERIES:
SMU leads the series 3-0
- First meeting in Connecticut
TEAM NOTES
General Notes:
SMU’s 22 wins ties for the fifth-most in program history
- First time SMU recorded 22 victories since 1987-88 (24-6 in regular season/28-7 overall)
- 2013-14 marks the 10th 20-win season in program history
- The Mustangs have 11 conference wins for the first time since SMU had 11 in the 2002-03 season (WAC)
First time SMU has defeated 4 ranked teams in the same season since 1955-56 (4 wins)
- SMU is 4-1 against ranked opponents this season
- First road win over a ranked opponent since Dec. 21, 2003 at No. 17 Purdue (66-59)
The Mustangs are 16-games over .500 for the first time since starting 21-5 in 1999-00
Larry Brown is:
- 1690-1215 career record (34th season: includes NBA, ABA, USA Basketball and NCAA)
- 214-84 in NCAA (9th season)
- 116-18 in NCAA home games
- 37-23 at SMU (2nd season)
- 31-8 at SMU when leading at the half
- 35-1 at SMU when leading with 5 minutes to go
- 24-3 at SMU when opponent scores less than 60
The Mustangs held UConn under 30 percent from the field, the first time this season SMU has held an opponent under 30%
SMU allowed just one UConn field goal in the first eight minutes of the second half
- 17-9 SMU run in that stretch
- UConn 1-9 from the field
Starting Lineup: Shawn Williams, Sterling Brown, Nic Moore, Nick Russell, Markus Kennedy
- 14th-straight game with this starting lineup
- Fourth different starting lineup this season
Held a 24-14 edge in the paint, winning the points in the paint battle for the 25th time in 28 games
- SMU is averaging 34.6 points in the paint per game
Defensive Notes:
SMU has held 27 of its last 37 opponents under 40%, including 21 of 28 this year
- SMU is 19-2 this year when holding opponents under 40%
The Mustangs held Connecticut to 29.6% from the field (16-54)
- First time SMU has held an opponent under 30% shooting since Feb. 9, 2013 at Rice (61-39) (10-51/19.6%)
- Held an opponent under 35% shooting for the 13th time this season
- Entered the game 2nd in the nation in FG% defense at 37.1% (1st American)
SMU allowed 55 points today
- SMU has held opponents to 25 points or less in the first half 12 times this year (7 of the last 13)
- Entered the game 3rd in The American in scoring defense at 61.6 per game (19th nationally)
Offensive Notes:
SMU had 13 assists on 21 field goals (61.9%)
- Double-digit assists in 26 of 28 games
- 24th game with assists on 50% of FGMs (14 of 16)
- Entered the game 3rd in The American with 15.2 assists per game (37th nationally)
SMU shot 46.7% from the field (21-45)
- Entered the game 1st in The American shooting 49.5% (8th nationally)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Sterling Brown (#3 – G – 6-6 – Fr.)
- 6 pts, 8 rbs, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 stls in 29 min.
- 8 Rebounds
· Career-high in rebounds
· 13th game this season with 4+ rebounds
- 2 Steals
· 2nd game with multiple steals
Markus Kennedy (#5 – F – 6-9 – So.)
- 13 pts, 7 rbs, 2 stls, 2 asts in 25 min.
- 13 Points
· 19th career game in double figures (all this season/16 of 19)
· Entered the game 20th in The American in scoring with 11.7 points per game
- 7 Rebounds
· 15 of 19 with 7+ rebounds (16th this season)
· Entered the game 6th in The American in rebounding with 7.0 per game
· Entered the game 4th in The American in defensive rebounds with 5.2 points per game
- 2 Assists
· 11th game this season with multiple assists (8 of 13)
- 2 Steals
· 13th game this season with multiple steals (10 of 14)
· Entered the game 11th in The American in steals with 1.4 steals per game
- AWARDS: Named to American Athletic Conference Honor Roll three times (12/23, 1/20, 1/27)
Ryan Manuel (#1 – G – 6-4 – Jr.)
- 5 pts, 1 rb, 2 blks, 2 stls in 15 min.
- 2 Steals
· Tied a season-high in steals
· 3rd game with multiple steals
- 2 Blocks
· 2nd game this season with multiple blocks
Nic Moore (#11 – G – 5-9 – So.)
- 15 pts, 1 rb, 5 asts in 33 min.
- 15 Points
· 24th game in double figures this season (12 in 13 games) (41st career)
· 13th game with 15+ points (20th career)
· Entered the game 13th in The American in scoring with 14.1 points per game
- 5 Assists
· 14th game with 5+ assists this season (26th career)
· 23rd game this season with 3+ assists
· Entered the game 4th in The American in assists per game with 4.6
· Entered the game 5th in The American assist/turnover ratio at 1.9
- AWARDS: Named to American Athletic Conference Honor Roll six times (11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 1/6, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17)
Nick Russell (#12 – G – 6-4 – Sr.)
- 15 pts, 2 rbs, 4 asts, 1 stl in 31 min.
- 15 Points
· 11th game in double figures this season (41st career)
- 3 3PT FGMS
· Season-high 3PT FGMs
· 6th game this year with multiple 3PT FGMs
- 4 Assists
· 18th game this season with 3+ assists
Shawn Williams (#2 – F – 6-7 – Sr.)
- 0 pts, 5 rbs, 1 stl in 20 min.
- 5 Rebounds
· 6th game this season with 5+ rebounds