Abilene Christian @ Southern Methodist preview

SMU goes for a seventh straight victory to start the 2019-20 season when it hosts Abilene Christian in a non-conference contest Friday. The Mustangs come off an easy 90-58 win over Hartford on Wednesday, while the Wildcats narrowly lost at Texas State in their last outing, 61-56 on Monday.

Despite a losing record, Abilene Christian is actually outscoring opponents by nearly 10 points a game, with Payten Ricks leading the Wildcats with 13.5 points per game. Coach Tim Jankovich has the Mustangs playing top-notch defense again this season, as they allow just 62.5 points per game and allow opponents to shoot just 37.2 percent from the floor. SMU got a major boost two games ago with TCU transfer Kendric Davis being ruled eligible, and he's averaged 18.5 points and 6 assists in his first two games with the Mustangs. Forward Isiaha Mike is adding 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while guard Tyson Jolly is averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV.

ABOUT ABILENE CHRISTIAN (2-4): Consistency has been a big problem for coach Joe Golding's squad, as shown by its most recent loss to Texas State, in which it went from a six-point halftime lead to scoring just 20 second-half points to lose by five. Abilene Christian was red hot in the first half, hitting 51.9 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from 3-point range, but all that changed in the second half, with the Wildcats hitting just 5-of-29 field-goal attempts, including going 0-for-6 from 3-point range. On the season, Abilene Christian is shooting 43 percent from the field and 29.1 percent from 3-point range but hasn't been able to put together enough 40-minute performances to earn more than two wins.

ABOUT SMU (6-0): The immediate eligiblity of Davis has put Emmanuel Bandoumel into a reserve role after four games, though the sophomore guard seems to be adapting well to the new role. Bandoumel is averaging 5 points in 15 minutes of playing time in his two games off the bench, compared to slightly more playing time but the same scoring average when he was a starter. Bandoumel has not been shooting well all season long, hitting just 31.6 percent from the floor and 17.6 percent from 3-point range, so the new role may be better for him to be more selective in his shooting as well.

TIP-INS

1. Abilene Christian has forced opponents to commit a turnover on 27.7 percent of all possessions, the 11th-best rate in the country.

2. SMU F Feron Hunt is tied for sixth in the American Athletic Conference, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game.

3. The Mustangs are shooting 78.1 percent from the free-throw line this season, which leads the American and ranks 25th nationally.

PREDICTION: SMU 78, Abilene Christian 54