SMU to Host C-USA Co-Leader Memphis

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Special to RattleandHumSports.com

SMU (12-11, 2-6 C-USA) hosts Conference USA co-leader Memphis (18-3, 7-0 C-USA) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Tigers are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. SMU has won two of the past four meetings with Memphis, winning each of the matchups in Moody Coliseum. This is the second time SMU has hosted a team receiving votes this season, falling 59-56 to Wyoming on Jan. 2. The Mustangs are 6-4 at home this year with the four losses by a combined 12 points.

UP NEXT: SMU plays at Rice on Saturday at 7 p.m. and then an FSN-televised matchup at Tulane on Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m. The next home game is against East Carolina on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.

LAST GAME (L ot, 84-80 – Houston on Feb. 2): DALLAS (AP) – Jherrod Stiggers scored the first 6 points in overtime for Houston, including a 3-pointer, and the Cougars went on to record an 84-80 victory over SMU on Saturday. The Mustangs forced overtime after Shawn Williams hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to tie the game at 71-71. Joseph Young led the way for Houston (14-7, 3-5 Conference USA) with 17 points. Stiggers had 16 off the bench, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. TaShawn Thomas scored 15 points, J.J. Thomson scored 13 and Danuel House scored 10. Nick Russell scored 22 points for SMU (12-11, 2-6) and Jalen Jones added 21. Ryan Manuel scored 15 points and handed out a career-high 10 assists against just one turnover. The Mustangs had 22 assists on 27 field goals. Russell had five assists in addition to the game-high 10 by Manuel.

THE SERIES VS. MEMPHIS (3-10): SMU and Memphis are meeting for the 14th time. The Tigers holds a 10-3 series advantage, but the two teams have split the last four contests. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs last season in Memphis, 63-45. SMU last won on Jan. 12, 2011, overcoming a 14-point deficit to win 64-58 at Moody Coliseum. Papa Dia had a double-double recording 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Robert Nyakundi and Collin Mangrum each had 15-point performances. The teams split the season series in 2009-10, with each team winning at home. SMU defeated Memphis in Dallas, 70-60 on Jan. 30, 2010, snapping an eight-game losing streak against the Tigers.