Undefeated SMU will look to continue to leverage its balanced attack and ball-hawking defense and move closer to the Top 25 when it hosts Radford on Monday night in Dallas.
The Mustangs (6-0) have been impressive through the first six contests on their season-opening seven-game homestand, winning by 46 and 31 points in their past two outings after a two-point victory over Butler on Nov. 15.
SMU swamped Arkansas State 100-69 on Friday in its most recent contest as B.J. Edwards notched a triple-double with 24 points, 13 assists and 10 steals. Boopie Miller finished with 17 points and Jaron Pierre Jr. had 15.
It marked the second consecutive contest in which the Mustangs had six players in double-digit scoring and the fourth in a row that at least five players reached that mark.
“We had six guys average 9.9 (points per game) or higher last year, and we have to share the ball and had 29 assists,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “We’re getting to the rim, but you can only be a good transition team if you get stops at the other end.
“So our guys have really bought into making the extra pass and setting their teammates up, and (against Arkansas State) that was on full display.”
Radford (2-5) heads into Monday’s game after an 81-73 home loss to UNC Wilmington on Friday.
Clemson transfer Del Jones and Dennis Parker Jr. each scored 27 points for the Highlanders, who have dropped five straight games, including contests on the road against then-No. 18 North Carolina and then-unbeaten South Carolina.
Jones had 13 points in the final two minutes, and Parker hit for a career-high six 3-pointers in Friday’s setback. Jones leads the team with an average of 17.1 points per game and Parker is second at 17.0.
They are two of 14 players brought to Radford in the offseason by new coach Zach Chu, who was SMU’s chief strategist under Enfield last season.
–Field Level Media
