After tournament win, SMU turns eyes to Alabama State

After a championship win at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational, and four days before its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference game against Virginia, SMU welcomes Alabama State to Dallas on Tuesday night.

Alabama State (3-4) is coming off consecutive losses at Akron and Cincinnati -- most recently a 77-59 setback at the then-No. 16 Bearcats on Wednesday -- after defeating Omaha and Lamar at the Akron Basketball Classic.

SMU (6-2) is 4-1 at home this season under first-year coach Andy Enfield, and the Mustangs beat Cal Baptist and Washington State on back-to-back days last week in Palm Desert, Calif.

The Mustangs put forth an exceptional defensive effort in a 77-60 win over Washington State, holding the Cougars to a season low in scoring in Acrisure championship game on Wednesday. Facing an Alabama State squad that averages 79.1 points per game and shoots 42.7 percent, SMU will look for the solid defense to carry over.

"Defensively, that was the best half we've played the entire season," Enfield said on SMU's radio broadcast. "Our guys were engaged and we were able to get to the 3-point shooters."

SMU's defensive improvement is particularly noteworthy after the Mustangs were outscored in the second half of losses to Butler and Mississippi State. Combined with a scoring attack that averages 86.8 points per game, tied for the 20th in the nation through the weekend, SMU seems to be finding a rhythm.

Boopie Miller leads the way at 17.0 points per game, and he is joined by Chuck Harris (12.6), B.J. Edwards (11.0) and Samet Yigitoglu (10.8) in double figures.

"We've improved, a lot, since the beginning of the season," Enfield noted on the SMU radio broadcast. "We have a ways to go. But that's what the out-of-conference is for."

Early in this season, Alabama State coach Tony Madlock has searched for the right chemistry in his starting lineup, with seven different players starting at least one game. Amarr Knox, TJ Madlock and Ubong Okon have started all seven, with the trio leading the Hornets' returning group from a team that went 13-19 in 2023-24.

"We have a good mixture of returning guys with new guys," Madlock said at the SWAC preseason media day. "We have six of our top nine from last year returning. So we feel good about them along with the eight newcomers."

CJ Hines leads the Hornets with an average of 15.7 ppg, though he did not play in Alabama State's loss at Cincinnati last Wednesday. Knox averages 15.3 points and had 24 against the Bearcats.

--Field Level Media