The SMU Mustangs (0-1) host Houston Baptist (0-2), Alabama State (0-1), and Illinois State (1-0) in the second annual SMU Tip-Off Classic Nov. 21-23 at Moody Coliseum. The classic begins at 5 p.m. each day with the Mustangs’ matchup and 7:30 p.m.
SMU hosts Houston Baptist in the 2008-09 home-opener on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Mustangs are 59-33 in home openers and have won 11 of the last 12. SMU is 38-14 in home openers at Moody Coliseum.
SMU is looking to even its record in the home-opener after a 60-46 loss at South Florida last Friday to begin the season.
The new backcourt led the way as Derek Williams led SMU with 13 points and Paul McCoy had 10 points. Ryan Harp had a team-high seven rebounds for SMU.
IN HOME OPENERS: The Mustangs are 59-33 all-time in home-openers. SMU is 38-14 in home-openers at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs have won 11 of the last 12 home-openers.
Under Doherty, the Mustangs are 1-1 in their Moody Coliseum debuts including a 53-48 win over Dayton in 2006-07 and the 75-61 loss to Southern last season.
THE SERIES (HBU): The Mustangs hold a 4-0 advantage on Houston Baptist after a 90-79 win at home on Dec. 9, 2007.
The previous three contests were played from 1972-75. The last three have been at Moody Coliseum with the first matchup, a 78-75 SMU win, coming in the Shreveport (La.) Invitational on Dec. 2, 1972.
THE SERIES (ASU): SMU and the Hornets are tied 1-1 after Alabama State scored a 64-54 win in the inaugural Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 11, 2007. SMU won the first meeting 90-66 in Moody Coliseum on Dec. 5, 1987.
THE SERIES (ISU): The Mustangs hold a 2-0 advantage on Illinois State entering just the third meeting, but it is the second matchup in the last three seasons. SMU won 57-55 on a Devon Pearon tip-in at the buzzer in the 2006 season-opener.
That was Matt Doherty’s first game at the helm of the Mustangs as the teams opened the Colonial Classic hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The first meeting was a 68-58 SMU win at home in the Dallas Morning News Classic on Dec. 14, 1985.
TIP-OFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE:
Friday, Nov. 21
5:00 p.m. - Alabama State vs. Illinois State
7:30 p.m. - SMU vs. Houston Baptist
Saturday, Nov. 22
5:00 p.m. - Illinois State vs. Houston Baptist
7:30 p.m. - SMU vs. Alabama State
Sunday, Nov. 23
5:00 p.m. - Houston Baptist vs. Alabama State
7:30 p.m. - SMU vs. Illinois State