Tulsa Welcomes SMU for Conference Rematch Wednesday

GAME #17: TULSA (4-12, 0-5 AAC) vs SMU (6-12, 1-4 AAC)
Date/Time:	Wednesday • Jan. 18, 2023 • 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Reynolds Center (8,355) • Tulsa, Okla.
Coaches:	Tulsa – Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, '00), 1st Season SMU - Rob Lanier (St. Bonaventure, '90) 1st Season
TV:	ESPN+ \| Josh Haley (PXP) and Pooh Williamson (Analyst)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM (Bruce Howard & J.R. Rollo)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	60th Meeting \| Tulsa Leads 33-26
Twitter:	@TUMBasketball \| @TulsaHurricane
Instagram:	TulsaMBasketball
Game Notes:	Tulsa (PDF) \| SMU (PDF) \| The American (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. — SMU will serve as the first American Athletic Conference opponent the University of Tulsa men's basketball team has faced twice when the Mustangs visit the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Wednesday evening.

Tipoff for the conference matchup is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN+. Josh Haley and Pooh Williamson will bring fans the action. Bruce Howard and JR Rollo will broadcast the radio call on Big Country 99.5 FM and The Varsity Network app.

The Golden Hurricane (4-12, 0-5 The American) and Mustangs (6-12, 1-4 AAC) met earlier in the season on New Year's Day. For Tulsa, it was the conference road opener, while SMU was opening its conference season. Tulsa's 3-point defense was one of the top in the country entering the matchup, but SMU went on to have its best shooting game of the season to this point, hitting 14 triples at a 53.8 percent clip while knocking down 57.9 percent of its field goals en route to a 92-67 win. Sam Griffin scored 22 in the loss, while Bryant Selebangue added 21 with nine rebounds

Tulsa leads the all-time series 33-26 after the earlier season meeting and is 13-12 in home games against the Mustangs. However, SMU has won 13 of the past 16 matchups and each of the past five have gone in favor of the team from Dallas.

TU is still seeking its first conference win of the season and is looking to get back into the win column after dropping each of the past six games starting with the nonconference game against LMU on Dec. 21. The Hurricane looked poised to snap that streak against Wichita State on Saturday, leading by as many as 16 early in the second half, but the advantage disappeared late as Wichita State stole the victory at the end.

The 14-point halftime lead was Tulsa's largest at the break since the season opener at Oregon State, but the Shockers continued to chip away before finally taking the lead with just over a minute to play. Griffin scored 25 to lead the Golden Hurricane, but it wasn't enough to overcome 26 trips to the line from the Shockers. Selebangue added 10 rebounds alongside eight points.

Griffin's performance Saturday boosted his season average to a team-high 15.7 points, 17.2 in conference play. Griffin and Brandon Betson have been Tulsa's best option from beyond the 3-point line, connecting on 79 3-pointers together, which is more than 60 percent of the team's triples. Betson has been near-automatic from that range, shooting at a 48-percent clip from deep, which tops the conference.

Selebangue continues to be a force on the boards, grabbing 8.8 rebounds to go along with his 12.6 points. He's second in the conference and 50th in the nation for rebounding, and his 5.8 defensive boards is tops in the league. Apart from his rebounding, he shoots an extremely efficient 66.7 percent from the floor, which not only leads the conference but is top-10 in the nation. His play has only improved as conference season started. The big man is averaging a double-double against The American opponents, recording averages of 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting above 70 percent.

SMU has yet to win since enjoying the New Year's Day victory over the Golden Hurricane. Most recently, the Mustangs dropped a close 54-52 game at home to Cincinnati. Losses at Houston and UCF and to Tulane have added to the team's struggles.

Zhuric Phelps leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game, fourth best in the conference, but his averages have taken a Hit in conference play, dropping to 6.7 per game against AAC opponents. Zach Nutall is another Mustang in double figures, averaging 13.6 a night.

Tulsa and SMU are close statistically with the Golden Hurricane slightly averaging more points per game with 68.4 to SMU's 68.1. TU narrowly edges the Mustangs from the field, hitting 42.7 of its shots to 42.1 from SMU, and edges its opponents 33 to 31 percent from deep.

Following Wednesday's game, the Golden Hurricane will finish the quick homestand with a game against Tulane on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. Saturday is also Legend's Night as the University of Tulsa welcomes back former members of the program to the Reynolds Center.

Tulsa Welcomes SMU for Conference Rematch Wednesday

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Players Mentioned

Brandon Betson

Sam Griffin

Bryant Selebangue