American Athletic Conference play opens with Memphis hosting SMU on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The game will be carried on ESPNU at 9 p.m. ET with Alex Faust and Mark Wise on the call.
GAME INFORMATION
Memphis (9-3) vs. SMU (10-3)
When: Tuesday, December 27
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. (CT)
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Arena:
FedExForum
TV:
ESPNU
Alex Faust, play-by-play
Mark Wise, analyst
Live Stats:
Memphis Sidearm Live Stats
SMU (10-3) enters American play on a six-game winning streak after back-to-back victories against Stanford (72-49 on Dec. 19) and Albany (71-53 on Dec. 20). The Mustangs are 28-8 in The American the past two seasons, winning the 2014-15 title at 15-3 before finishing second last season at 13-5.
Four Mustangs average double digits with Semi Ojeleye leading the team (18.1, 3
rd AAC) followed by Shake Milton (11.9, 21
st AAC), Ben Moore (11.2, 25
th AAC) and Sterling Brown (10.8, 28
th). SMU has had at least four score in double figures in 10 of 13 games.
Memphis steps into conference play at 9-3 in Tubby Smith's first season as head coach of the Tigers. The Tigers are led by two-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Week Dedric Lawson, who with 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game is is currently the one of two players in NCAA Division I to average 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds per game, joining Lehigh’s Tim Kempton (22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds).
The Tigers have been one of the nation's best teams at sharing the ball, currently ranking fourth in the country in assists per game, at 19.4 per contest and are one of nine schools to average at least 19 assists per game.
Tuesday’s game features the top two offensive rebounding teams in the American Athletic Conference. Memphis ranks 32
nd nationally in offensive rebounds per game, pulling down 13.4 per contest, which also leads schools in the American Athletic Conference. SMU ranks 42
nd in the country, and second in the American, averaging 13.1. The Mustangs have outrebounded 12 of 13 opponents and have a +11.1 rebound margin (2
nd AAC, 7
th NCAA), Five Mustangs average 3.7 or more rebounds with Moore (7.7, 7
th), Ojeleye (7.2, 9
th AAC) and Brown (6.5, 15
th AAC) leading SMU.
In a series dating back to 1953, SMU and Memphis are meeting for the 21
st time overall, with the Tigers holding a 12-8 edge. However, SMU has won four straight matchups, including a sweep last season, winning 80-68 at SMU and 69-62 at the FedExForum. The Mustangs are 5-1 against Memphis since both teams joined The American.