Free Play | NCAAB

By Don Phillips
SMU Mustangs (15-0, 4-0 American) at East Carolina Pirates (8-8, 0-3 American)

 
Wednesday, January 13, 6:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. CT
Minges Coliseum (7,100), Greenville, North Carolina
TV: ESPNews (Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola)
SMU Radio: KAAM 770 AM
TuneIn App – Search SMU (Rich Phillips, Allen Stone)
Sirius 81, XM 81

SMU is averaging 81.6 points (1st AAC, 32nd NCAA) while shooting 52.1 percent (1st AAC, 4th NCAA). The Mustangs have had at least four double-digit scorers in 12 of 15 games. The offense is averaging 18.7 assists (1st AAC, 9th NCAA) and has a 1.56 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st AAC, 20th NCAA). Senior Nic Moore leads SMU in scoring (16.1, 4thAAC) and assists (4.7, 2nd AAC).

Jordan Tolbert leads SMU at 9.7 rebounds (1st AAC, 29th NCAA) with Ben Moore next at 8.1 (8th AAC). SMU’s 13.4 offensive rebounds per game ranks them third in the AAC (41st NCAA), led by Jordan Tolbert at 4.13 offensive boards per game (1st AAC, 7th NCAA).

SMU’s 15-0 start is the best in program history, surpassing the 10-0 start by the 1997-98 team. The 15-game winning streak is the second-longest in program history (20 during 1955-56). SMU is 40-4 in the past 44 games after finishing 27-7 last season after 2-3 start.

SMU has outrebounded 12 of 15 opponents this season and has a +12.6 margin (1st AAC, 3rd NCAA). The Mustangs have been at least +10 in 10 games. In the 4-game stretch from 12/5 to 12/17, SMU was at least +25 in each game (+113 total, +28.3 average). SMU was +25 vs. New Hampshire, +25 vs. Michigan, +37 vs. Nicholls, +26 vs. Hampton.

In 2014-15, SMU outrebounded 28 of its 34 opponents. The Mustangs had a 6.7 rebounding margin (1st AAC, 17th NCAA). SMU is 71-15 under Larry Brown/Tim Jankovich when out-rebounding its opponent (25-3 in 2014-15). Since 2013-14, SMU has outrebounded 65 of 86 opponents.

SMU is leading The American at 52.1% from the field (4th NCAA), going for better than 50% in 11 of 15 games. SMU shot 47.5% from the field in 2014-15 (1st AAC, 26th NCAA). The Mustangs shot over 50% 12 times last season (7 times in league games). When shooting 50% or better, SMU is 40-4 under Larry Brown/Tim Jankovich.

SMU has outscored 13 of 15 opponents in the paint this season, averaging 39.3 to 23.7. Last season, SMU outscored 31 of its 34 opponents in the paint, going 25-6. The Ponies are 74-24 when doing so under Larry Brown/Tim Jankovich. In 2014-15, the Mustangs averaged 31.5 points in the paint while opponents had 19.2. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs have outscored 74 of 86 opponents in the paint.

East Carolina’s zone has produced one of the top 3-point defenses in the country this season. The Pirates are 13th in the latest NCAA rankings in 3-point field goal defense, which ranks second in The American behind Houston.

ECU is holding its opponents to 29.1 percent shooting outside the arc this season. Eight times the Pirates have forced their foe to shoot less than 30 percent from 3, including three games under 20 percent.

The Pirates are 5-4 this season when holding their opponents to less than 30 percent outside the arc.

East Carolina finished second in The American in 3-point field goals defense last season, allowing opponents to shoot just 31.3 percent outside the arc.

You’ll find Southern Methodist a 13½-point road favorite at the best offshore sportsbook around, America’s Bookie, with the total at 139. Don’t miss out on this and all the rest of the NCAA Basketball action.

Selection: SMU