UL Monroe @ Southern Methodist preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2006 ) Louisiana-Monroe 66, Southern Methodist 99

Shake Milton will be the centerpiece of the SMU offense early this season, including in Sunday's home game against Louisiana Monroe, while the team grows together. The junior guard had a career-high 28 points in Friday's opener that featured five new players for the Mustangs.

"Last year, we had one of the great equal-opportunity offenses," SMU coach Tim Jankovich said after Friday's win. "Whether we become that this year, time will tell. Early in the season ... we're going to rely on him to have a lot more opportunities to shoot the ball." Freshman forward Ethan Chargois played well in his debut and will be a bright spot for the Mustangs' thin front line. SMU trailed Maryland-Baltimore County by seven at halftime but stepped up defensively in the second half, allowing 22 points. The Warhawks have two experienced forwards but have added more pick-and-roll sets to accommodate a guard-heavy roster.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT LOUISIANA MONROE (0-1): Senior forward Sam McDaniel led the Warhawks with 21 points off the bench while top returning scorer Travis Munnings added 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Jordon Harris hit 4-of-5 from the 3-point line for 16 points. Marvin Jean-Pierre added 12 points while freshman guard Michael Ertel was held scoreless in his first start.

ABOUT SMU (1-0): Milton hit 10-of-10 from the free-throw line and recorded three rebounds and two steals in the win. Returning starter Jarrey Foster added 17 points and eight rebounds, spending a lot of time in the frontcourt. Chargois had 15 points and eight rebounds while guard Jimmy Whitt, an Arkansas transfer, added eight points, seven assists and six rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. SMU's 23-game home win streak is tied with Texas Southern for the third-longest active streak in NCAA.

2. Georgetown graduate transfer F Akoy Agau missed SMU's opener (infection in knee), leaving Chargois and freshman Everett Ray (three points, three rebounds in 15 minutes) as the only forwards on the roster.

3. Louisiana Monroe hit 12-of-27 from the 3-point line in its loss to TCU.

PREDICTION: SMU 78, Louisiana Monroe 64