After winning the tournament, SMU turns its attention to Alabama State | National

Fresh off a championship win at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational and four days before its first Atlantic Coast Conference game against Virginia, SMU welcomes Alabama State to Dallas on Tuesday night. Alabama State (3-4) has suffered consecutive losses to Akron and Cincinnati – most recently a 77-59 setback against the then-No. 16 Bearcats on Wednesday – after defeating Omaha and Lamar in the Akron Basketball Classic. SMU (6-2) is 4-1 at home this season under first-year coach Andy Enfield, and the Mustangs featured exceptional defensive performances against Cal Baptist and Washington State on consecutive days last week in Palm Desert, Calif a 77-60 victory over Washington State that held the Cougars to a season-low point total in the Acrisure championship game on Wednesday. Facing an Alabama State squad that is averaging 79.1 points per game and shooting 42.7 percent, SMU will be looking for a solid defense to take over. “Defensively, it was the best half we played all season,” Enfield said on SMU’s radio show. “Our guys were engaged and we were able to get to the 3-point shooters.” SMU’s defensive improvement is particularly notable after the Mustangs were outscored in the second half of losses to Butler and Mississippi State. Combined with a scoring attack that is averaging 86.8 points per game, ranking 20th nationally heading into the weekend, SMU appears to be finding a rhythm. Boopie Miller leads the way with 17.0 points per game, followed by Chuck Harris (12.6), BJ Edwards (11.0) and Samet Yigitoglu (10.8) in double figures. “We have improved a lot since the beginning of the season,” Enfield noted on the SMU radio show. “We still have a long way to go. But that’s what the non-conference is for.” Earlier this season, Alabama State coach Tony Madlock looked for chemistry in his starting lineup, with seven different players starting at least one game. Amarr Knox, TJ Madlock and Ubong Okon all started seven, with the trio leading the Hornets’ returning group after the team went 13-19 in 2023-24. “We have a good mix of returning and new players,” Madlock said at SWAC preseason media day. “Six of our top nine from last year are returning. So we’re happy with them and the eight new additions.” CJ Hines leads the Hornets with an average of 15.7 ppg despite not playing in Alabama State’s loss to Cincinnati last Wednesday. Knox is averaging 15.3 points and had 24 against the Bearcats. –Field level media