Coaches Name SMU National Team of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NABC/SMU) – SMU was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I National Team of the Week for games played Jan. 15-21 after wins at then-No. 7/4 Wichita State and against Tulane.

On Wednesday, the Mustangs snapped the Shockers’ Koch Arena 27-game winning streak, 83-78. SMU shot 63.8 percent from the field (30-47), while going 50.0 percent (11-22) from behind the 3-point arc. Preseason American Player of the Year Shake Milton scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, while playing all 40 minutes. In the second half, the junior scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while shooting perfect from behind the arc (3-3) and the free-throw line (4-4). Junior Jahmal McMurray scored his season-high with 16 points while dropping in three shots from 3-point range.




SMU knocked off Tulane, 73-62, Saturday behind standout performances from multiple players. Milton led the Mustangs with a team-high 20 points, with 18 points in the final 13 minutes of play, while Jimmy Whitt added 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Defensively, the Columbia, Mo., native registered five steals, including a steal on four straight Tulane possessions. In his first start in a Mustang uniform, McMurray scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. Ben Emelogu II added 11 points for the Mustangs and grabbed nine rebounds. He had three steals, three assists and a block. Akoy Agau recorded nine points in 23 minutes of play, going 4-of-4 from the field and making his only free-throw attempt. He added a block and an assist.

Milton, who is on the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Lute Olson and Bob Cousy watch lists, earned his third AAC Player of the Week Award this season after his performances. He shot 53.3 percent from the field (16-30) and 63.6 percent from behind the three-point arc (7-11).

The Mustangs visit Connecticut on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.