East Carolina @ Southern Methodist preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) Southern Methodist 68, East Carolina 71

When SMU hosts East Carolina on Wednesday, it will look to bounce back from a surprising three-point loss at the hands of the Pirates two weeks ago. But what falls in the Mustangs’ favor is that the game is being played at Moody Coliseum, where they are are 10-1 on the season and undefeated in American Athletic Conference play.

In the first meeting, SMU squandered an 11-point halftime lead, shooting well below its season averages from the floor and three, and has shot 25 percent from beyond the arc in its last three games. The contest also marked one of the worst of the season for Mustangs guard Tyson Jolly, who scored nine points on 2-12 shooting, though he bounced back in the team's most recent game against Temple with career highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds. Despite the sub-.500 conference and overall record, the East Carolina is one win away from tying its AAC total from 2018-2019. The Pirates have won six of their last nine games behind improved defense, allowing opponents 67 points per game in that span after allowing 75.3 points in the first nine, and is undefeated on the season when holding opponents below 40 percent field goal shooting.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: None

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (8-10, 2-3 AAC): Sophomore forward Jayden Gardner is a leading candidate for AAC Player of the Year, leading the conference with 20.7 points per game, though he scored 13 in a loss to Cincinnati on the heels of an eight-game streak of 20 or more and a 19-point performance against Tulsa. Junior college transfer Tremont Robinson-White had a strong start after missing the first seven games because of injury, though he has cooled off considerably, failing to score five points in three of his last four games. Freshman point guard Tristen Newton led the AAC in assist-turnover ratio for most of the season until SMU point guard Kendric Davis became qualified and took that crown, leaving Newton second, dishing out twice the assists as turnovers.

ABOUT SMU (13-4, 3-2): Though Davis rendered a near season-low 10 points against Temple, he dished out nine assists, contributing to a 7.2 average that is first in the AAC and eighth in the nation entering Tuesday. The last time the teams met, stretch forward Isiaha Mike scored 21 points while draining five 3s and averages 15.2 points and 7.2 rebounds - both second-best on the team. The frontcourt is in a state of flux as big man Feron Hunt nearly missed the Temple contest with a back injury, though he played and almost notched double-double, and Ethan Chargois has been removed from the starting lineup in favor of Isiah Jasey, as coach Tim Jankovich told the Dallas Morning News that Chargois' effort has been lacking.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. SMU has won all but one meeting between the teams as AAC opponents, with the exception of the most recent contest.

2. Davis and Mike are tied for the AAC lead with an 88.9 free throw percentage.

3. Gardner was first in the country entering Tuesday with 152 free throws attempted and second with 116 made.

PREDICTION: SMU 75, East Carolina 69