GAME NOTES: The SMU Mustangs will continue a lengthy homestand on Sunday when they host the Monmouth Hawks in non-conference action at Moody Coliseum.

Monmouth is in the midst of a three-game road trip, with this the second part of the journey. The Hawks were set down by Maryland, 61-56, in the first leg. That was the second straight loss and drops them to 2-3 overall. They will play their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener against Marist this Thursday in their next outing.

It has been a rocky start to the season for the Mustangs, who were nationally ranked when the campaign began. However, a 3-3 split of their first six games has them on the outside of such elite company. They have won two of their last three games, which began a seven-game homestand, and continues on Friday against Wyoming.

This meeting marks the first ever between the Mustangs and Hawks on the hardwood.

Although there is little tangible benefit to a moral victory, that is exactly what Monmouth earned against Maryland, as the Hawks fought to the bitter end in the six-point loss. They held the Terps to only 37.8 percent shooting on their home floor. However, they only made good on 37 percent themselves, while being outscored, 18-10, off turnovers.

Scoring at a low rate has been an unfortunate habit of the Hawks in the young season. They have been successful on 44.5 percent of their field goal attempts, but that is yielding them a scoring average of just 64.6 points per game. Fortunately, the Hawks have remained competitive by holding foes to 60.8 points per game on 37.5 percent shooting. In each of their three losses, they have fallen by 10 points or less. Deon Jones (13.4 ppg) has made an even 50 percent of his shots from the floor, as has Justin Robinson (10.8 ppg). Andrew Nicholas (12 ppg) is an excellent option off the bench, but the roster does not feature another player scoring more than seven points per game.

SMU's most recent victory was a 72-59 triumph against Texas Southern. The Mustangs were successful on 51.9 percent of their shots in that game, including a 7-of-14 showing from 3-point distance. They also forced 18 turnovers and assisted on 18 of their 28 field goals. Nic Moore finished with 17 points and six assists to pace the Mustangs.

Moore (13 ppg, 5.7 apg) is easily the most important player on the floor for the Mustangs. He not only leads the team in scoring, but runs the offense, handing out assists at a higher rate than any other player. He has a number of scorers to choose from, with Yanick Moreira (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Keith Frazier (12.3 ppg) and Ben Moore (11.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 bpg) all averaging in double figures. Frazier netted 16 points against Texas Southern and Moreira chimed in with 15 points and seven rebounds, as well as three blocked shots.

SMU has much more talent than its 3-3 record would indicate. That will be clearly evident in this contest, as the Mustangs should run away with a comfortable home win.