5-0 Men's basketball Begins Four-Game Homestand
SMU (5-0) vs. Hartford (4-3)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
November 27, 2019 – 6 pm CT
TV: ESPN3 | Radio: KAAM 770 AM | TuneIn App | Live Stats
SMU begins a four-game homestand by hosting Hartford on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Mustangs improved to 5-0 with two road wins last week, 59-57 at Evansville on Monday and 72-68 at UNLV on Saturday. The Mustangs are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2015-16, when the team started 18-0.
In the win at UNLV, Kendric Davis had team highs of 21 points and nine rebounds in his SMUΓÇêdebut after getting news on Friday that his NCAA waiver was approved. Feron Hunt had a career-high 19 points in the road win and was named to The American Weekly Honor Roll after averaging 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in last week's road wins.
In the win at UNLV, SMU was 12-12 at the free-throw line. It was just the fourth time in program history the team was perfect with at least 10 attempts. Four different Mustangs went to the stripe, Kendric Davis (6-6), Tyson Jolly (3-3), Feron Hunt (2-2) and Isiaha Mike (1-1). SMU is at 80.6% for the season, which leads the AAC and is sixth nationally.
SMU is 42-10 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich. The Mustangs are 34-3 at Moody Coliseum in those games, 3-4 in neutral-site games and 5-3 in true road games.
After Kendric Davis' debut, the Mustangs have five different players that have scored at least 15 points: Tyson Jolly (4x), Isiaha Mike (2x), Feron Hunt, Kendric Davis and Ethan Chargois. Jolly, Mike and Davis have had 20-point games.
The Mustangs held UNLV to just 35.8% shooting for the game. That was the fourth straight game the Mustangs have held an opponent under 40%. SMU's field goal percentage defense is 37.2 through five games. SMU is 45-3 under Tim Jankovich when holding opponents at or below 40%.
Three Mustangs have been named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll in the first three weeks of the season. Tyson Jolly was on the list on Nov. 11, Isiaha Mike followed that on Nov. 18 and Feron Hunt was on Monday's award list.
QUICKΓÇêHITS:
ΓÇó SMU does not have any seniors this season.
ΓÇó The Mustangs have had an AAC Weekly Honor Roll nod each of the first three weeks; Tyson Joilly (Nov. 11), Isiaha Mike (Nov. 18), Feron Hunt (Nov. 25).
ΓÇó SMU has held 4 of 5 opponents below 40% shooting. SMUΓÇêis 45-3 under Tim Jankovich when holding opponents at or below 40%.
ΓÇó SMU has outrebounded 4 of 5 opponents. Under Tim Jankovich, SMU is 58-13 when having an advantage on the glass.
ΓÇó In the win at UNLV, SMU was 12-12 at the free-throw line. It was just the fourth time in program history the team was perfect with at least 10 attempts. SMU is at 80.6% for the season, which leads the AAC and is sixth nationally.
ΓÇó SMU had 4 score 10+ in the 74-65 win vs Jacksonville St (Tyson Jolly 21, Isiaha Mike 14, Feron Hunt 13, Ethan Chargois 10). First time SMU had 4 w/ 10+ in an opener since 2016 (Semi Ojeleye 26, Shake Milton 13, Sterling Brown 11, Jarrey Foster 11).
ΓÇó Tyson Jolly is averaging 16.0 points (T-5th AAC) and 6.0 rebounds (T-15th AAC) while shooting 56.5% overall (10th AAC). He had a team-high 7 assists at UNLV and is now averaging 3.4 (10th AAC). He was the first Mustang with 20+ points in each of the first two games since Shake Milton in 2017.
ΓÇó Feron Hunt is averaging 12.6 points (19thΓÇêAAC) and 8.2 rebounds (T-6th AAC). He is fourth the league lead with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game. He has 9 or more rebounds in 3 of 5 games this season.
ΓÇó Last season, Feron Hunt averaged 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds (T-1st SMU, 9th AAC). He had had at least 7 rebounds in 19 games. He also had 28 blocked shots and 25 steals in 32 games. He shot 55.4% FG as a freshman last season (4th AAC), which ranks third all-time as a freshman at SMU behind Ben Moore (61.3%, 2013-14) & Ira Terrell (57.2%, 1972-73).
ΓÇó Isiaha Mike is averaging 17.0 points (T-3rd AAC) and 7.0 rebounds (T-12th AAC) after averaging 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. He has also made a jump in rebounds, FG% (57.4 from 45.3), 3FG% (52.2 from 36.8...), FT% (90.5 from 76.3) and assists (2.2 from 1.7). He has scored in double figures every game this season.
ΓÇó Isiaha Mike had a team-high 24 points, 7 rebounds (tie), 7 assists and a steal (tie) in the 80-63 win over Jackson State on 11/16. He was the first Mustang to at least share a lead in all four categories since Jalen Jones in a 74-70 loss to Southern Miss on 1/16/2013 (20 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals).
.ΓÇó Sophomore Everett Ray is averaging 3.2 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. Ray missed last season recovering from a foot injury.
.ΓÇó Three returning Mustangs recorded points and rebounds double-doubles last season. Ethan Chargois had four, Isiaha Mike had back-to-back double-doubles against UCF 2/10 and Temple 2/13, and Feron Hunt had his first in the regular-season finale at USF.
ΓÇó SMU is 76-38 under Tim Jankovich and 51-13 at Moody Coliseum
ΓÇó SMU is 42-10 in regular-season non-conference games under Tim Jankovich, 34-3 at Moody Coliseum.
ΓÇó SMU is 57-33 in AAC play since start of 2014-15 (3rd-best in the league). The Mustangs are 33-12 at Moody Coliseum.
ΓÇó The win at [rv/rv] Evansville was the 10th victory under Tim Jankovich over a team ranked or receiving votes. It was the first since the 83-78 victory at [7/4] Wichita State on Jan. 17, 2018.
ΓÇó SMU has 5 wins against APΓÇêTop 25 teams under Tim Jankovich (15 games). That is tied for second at SMU. Doc Hayes had 13 from 1947-67.
ΓÇó SMU has won two American Athletic Conference Championships (2015 & 2017).
ΓÇó SMU has had three players selected in the NBA Draft since 2017.Sterling Brown and Semi Ojeleye in 2017 and Shake Milton in 2018. Jahmal McMurray was selected in the 2019 NBA G-League Draft.
ΓÇó SMUΓÇêhas surpassed 100,000 in home attendance for six straight seasons.
ΓÇó The Mustangs have had 12 All-American Athletic Conference honorees in the six seasons ot the league, including four first-team selections. SMU is one of three programs to have someone named to the All-American Athletic Conference first or second team in each year of the league (Cincinnati and Memphis).
HUNTINGΓÇêFORΓÇêREBOUNDS: Feron Hunt is averaging 8.2 rebounds (6th AAC). He had a season-high 13 rebounds vs New Orleans. He has 7 or more rebounds in 22 of 37 games in his career, including 3 of 5 this season. Hunt shared the team lead in rebounding at 6.4 per game as a freshman last season. He was just the sixth Mustang to lead the team as a freshman.
Ira Terrell 1972-73 (14.1)
Jon Koncak 1981-82 (5.7)
Jeryl Sasser 1997-98 (8.3)
Patrick Simpson 2001-02 (6.
Papa Dia 2007-08 (6.5)
Feron Hunt 2018-19 (6.4)
FINDINGΓÇêTHEΓÇêRANGE: Isiaha Mike is hitting 52.2% from 3-point range (12-23) this season. That is second in the AAC. His 2.4 threes made per game are 8th in the AAC. He is now 39.0% from three in his time at SMU, which ranks 12th for a career.
SMU Men's Basketball teams up with Coaching for Literacy and Veritex Community Bank in the #Fight4Literacy: SMU Men's Basketball and Veritex Community Bank have partnered with Coaching for Literacy to support Readers 2 Leaders, a Dallas organization that promotes childhood reading and raises funds for the local literacy work. This is the sixth straight season SMU Men's Basketball has hosted a Coaching For Literacy game. Because life success is directly tied to the ability to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, the futures of local kids are on the line every year. That is why SMU and Tim Jankovich will host a #Fight4Literacy Game on December 3, 2019 to promote childhood reading and raise funds for the local literacy work of Readers 2 Leaders. For every $10 contributed by SMU Mustangs fans, Coaching for Literacy (CFL) will provide 2 books to local kids like Annie, Jaylen, and Lucas. To learn more text "MUSTANGS4LIT" to 71-777 or visit: http://igfn.us/vf/MUSTANGS4LIT.
LASTΓÇêGAME (W, 72-68 at UNLV on Nov. 23): LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Kendric Davis had 21 points as SMU edged past UNLV 72-68 on Saturday night. Feron Hunt had 19 points for SMU (5-0). Isiaha Mike added 14 points and Tyson Jolly had seven assists for the Mustangs. Bryce Hamilton had 18 points for the Runnin' Rebels (2-5). Donnie Tillman and Amauri Hardy added 13 points apiece.
THE SERIES VS HARTFORD (0-0): First meeting.
UP NEXT: The Mustangs continue the four-game homestand with Abilene Christian on Friday at 7 p.m., Northwestern State on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. and Georgetown on Dec. 7 at 8:30 p.m..
SMU2NBA / Pros Since 2014:
- Semi Ojeleye was selcted 37th in 2017 by Boston
- Sterling Brown was selcted 46th in 2017 (picked by Philadelphia, then traded to Milwaukee)
- Shake Milton was selected 54th in 2018 (picked by Dallas, then traded to Philadelphia)
- Ben Moore spent 2017-19 with Indiana and San Antonio
- Jahmal McMurray was picked 21st in the 2019 G League draft by the Northern Arizona Suns (Phoenix)
- Playing professionally: BenΓÇêEmelogu, Markus Kennedy, Ben Moore, Nic Moore, Yanick Moreira, Nick Russell