Southern Methodist @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2018 ) Southern Methodist 51, Cincinnati 61

Cincinnati goes for a seventh straight victory when it hosts American Athletic Conference rival SMU in a Saturday night contest. The Bearcats have had a few days off since their last contest, a 72-68 victory at Temple last Sunday, while the Mustangs have dropped three of four - including an 85-83 decision at Wichita State on Wednesday.

SMU coach Tim Jankovich's squad has a balanced offensive attack, led by Jahmal McMurray (18.4 points, 68 3-pointers), Ethan Chargois (12.8, team-high 7.1 rebounds) and Jimmy Whitt Jr. (12.8, 6.6, team-best 4.4 assists), however it is usually the Mustangs' defense that draws the headlines. SMU is allowing just 68.8 points (fifth in the American), but the Mustangs have been a bit more porous lately by allowing each of their last three opponents to score 75 or more points, including the first two this season to break 80. When it comes to defense, Cincinnati is one of the league's best, ranking second in scoring defense (61.2 points) and third in field-goal percentage defense (40.2). Junior guard Jarron Cumberland (18.4 points) is the Bearcats' best offensive weapon, and he's been even better in league play while pacing the American in scoring at 22 per game and recording at least 20 points in each of Cincinnati's last four home contests.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT SMU (12-8, 4-4 American): Sophomore forward Isiaha Mike has started to become an offensive force for the Mustangs, setting his season high in points in each of the team's last two contests, with 20 against Tulane followed by 25 against Wichita State. Mike is second on the team in made 3-pointers with 30, and his 39.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc leads the Mustangs. Mike is starting to show the form that earned him a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team during his freshman season with Duquesne in 2016-17, and Jankovich is confident he'll continue to develop into a top scoring threat before season's end.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (18-3, 7-1): One area that coach Mick Cronin is looking for improvement from his team is defense against the 3-pointer, with the Bearcats ranking last in the American while allowing opponents to shoot 36 percent from beyond the arc. That could be trouble against an SMU squad that has hit 173 shots from behind the arc this season - second in the American - with Mike and McMurray ranked in the top eight of the league in 3-point percentage. Cronin has tapered back on practices for the Bearcats this week, looking to have fresher legs for the stretch run and hopefully to do better at closing out on shooters at the arc.

TIP-INS

1. With as few as eight scholarship players available at times, Whitt (34.7 minutes) and McMurray (32.8) have had to be on the floor a lot - ranking third and ninth in the American, respectively.

2. Cincinnati G Justin Jenifer ranks fourth in the nation with a 5.23-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and leads the American in three-point percentage at 46.2.

3. The Bearcats swept all three meetings with SMU last season, holding the Mustangs to 56 points or fewer in each contest.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 76, SMU 67