Tigers survive 3-point Siena barrage to improve to 8-3

Wednesday, December 20

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

8-3

Siena

3-9

Siena

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers survive 3-point Siena barrage to improve to 8-3

Dec 20, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Memphis-Siena Boxscore Memphis Season Statistics

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A balanced scoring attack, a key contribution from another freshman and a near turnover-free second half helped the University of Memphis survive a scare from Siena Wednesday night at FedExForum.

Jeremiah Martin and Kyvon Davenport scored 16 points apiece, freshman David Nickelberry added seven points, six rebounds and three assists and the Tigers committed only two second-half turnovers in the 70-66 victory. Memphis (8-3) also got 13 points from Raynere Thornton and Kareem Brewton, while Thornton – making his first start in place of injured Jimario Rivers – grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.

The win was the eighth in 10 games for the Tigers, who were playing their fourth and final game in the Houzz Gotham Classic presented by TicketIQ. Memphis went 3-1 in the Gotham Classic with its only loss coming to Louisville last weekend in the classic's showcase game at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"It was a relief to get this win," Tiger coach Tubby Smith said. "(Siena's) Jimmy Patsos is one of the best coaches in the coaches and he always has been. He does some good things with his teams. They always play hard."

Siena (3-9) also shot extremely well from beyond the arc. The Saints connected on 14-of-30 attempts, led by Jordan Horn. Horn, who entered the game averaging 2.6 points, made 8-of-12 shots – all 3-pointers – to finish with a game-high 24 points. Horn doubled his career-high with the effort.

"The young man, Jordan Horn, was unconscious," Smith said. "He went to my basketball camp (when Smith coached) at Minnesota for two years. I guess I did too good a job teaching him how to shoot."

The Tigers had to rally from an early 10-point deficit in the second half, eventually tying the game at 49-all on two Brewton free throws with about 10 minutes left. An 8-2 run gave Memphis a lead it never lost, although Siena tied the game at 62 with 2:48 to go.

A three-point play by Davenport, followed by free throws from Brewton (1-of-2), Martin (1-of-2), Davenport (2-of-2) and Thornton (1-of-2) in the final two minutes allowed the Tigers to escape.

"It was another one of those down-to-the-wire games," Smith said. "We had some good performances in the second half. We stepped up and the biggest thing was taking care of the basketball with only two turnovers. That was the key to turning the game around."

Davenport said he didn't think the Tigers were struggling, but just weren't "knocking down shots."

"In the second half we did a lot better (attacking) the zone and with the man-to-man defense," he said. "But it was more of a case of us moving the ball."

The Tigers grabbed an early 5-0 lead after Davenport opened the game with a 3-pointer and Mike Parks dropped in a pair of free throws, but Siena recovered quickly. The Saints used seven 3-pointers the remainder of the half to take a 34-26 lead at the break.

Horn had 12 points – all on 3-pointers – to lead the Saints in the opening half.

The Tigers missed Rivers' presence. Rivers is recovering from a head injury that occurred in the second half of last weekend's game against Louisville. Rivers and 7-foot Louisville center Anas Mahmoud ran into one another six minutes into the second half and Rivers did not return.

Rivers is the team's third-leading scorer at 10.4 point per game.

The Tigers play the second of three games during their current home stand at 11 a.m. Saturday against Loyola (Md.), coached by G.G. Smith.