GAME THREAD: MBB vs. Wake Forest

[PonyPride]

Mustangs (19-5) and Demon Deacons (18-7) tip off at 5 PM at Moody Coliseum in a game that can be seen on the ACC Network.

More importantly, SMU is 10-3 in ACC games and Wake is 10-4 — fourth and fifth, respectively, in the ACC standings. The top four teams get a double bye in the ACC tournament.

[PonyPride]

Injury report: SMU will be without forward Yohan Traore and guard Boopie Miller. After starting his college career at Central Michigan, Miller played the 2023-24 season at Wake Forest.

Miller leads the Mustangs with 13.4 points per game and 137 assists — 46 more than B.J. Edwards' 89 helpers.

Miller also averages 28.4 minutes, so it's worth watching how many more minutes will be given to Edwards, Chuck Harris, Kario Oquendo, etc., and to see if the Mustangs defend differently to try to minimize foul trouble on the remaining guards.

[PonyPride]

Miller is wearing a protective boot on his ankle while the teams warm up ... but shows no sign of a limp or even discomfort while encouraging his teammates and exchanging greetings with his former WF teammates.

[PonyPride]

Senior guard Hunter Sallis leads Wake in scoring (18.5 PPG) and ranks second on the team with 67 assists.

The top rebounder is senior forward Tre'Von Spillers (7.7 per game).

[PonyPride]

The Demon Deacons are hoping to rebound from a 72-70 loss to Florida State, which ended a three-game winning streak.

[PonyPride]

Wake Forest starters
G 8 Ty-Laur Johnson
G 23 Hunter Sallis
F 2 Juke Harris
F 25 Tre'Von Spillers
C 4 Efton Reid

SMU starters
G 0 B.J. Edwards,B.J.
G 3 Chuck Harris
G 8 Kario Oquendo
F 33 Matt Cross
C 24 Samet Yiğitoğlu

[PonyPride]

Sitting courtside with David Miller, George W. Bush, etc.: future SMU president Jay Hartzell

[PonyPride]

Student sections on side and end of the court are packed — as is most of the arena.

[PonyPride]

Chuck Harris dives to punch the ball away from Juke Harris, then basically tackles him while going for loose ball ... and not only gets no foul called, but got possession for SMU.

Next time on defense, Chuck Harris picks up his first foul.

Sallis hits 1 of 2 FTs

Wake 3, SMU 0

[PonyPride]

Long 2 by Cross puts SMU ahead, 4-3

[PonyPride]

Chuck Harris cans a 3
7-3 SMU

[PonyPride]

Chuck Harris blows past a (moving) Cross screen and arches a floater high off the glass.

After spotting WF a 3-0 lead, Ponies have put up 10 straight

10-3

[PonyPride]

Today's veteran of the game honored during first timeout: former SMU basketball star Carl Wright

[WildHorse]

Loudest Moody has been all season

[PonyPride]

Harris drains another 3
13-3 SMU