Men's Basketball returns home to face South Dakota State

Tuesday, December 4

Memphis, Tenn.

8 PM

University of Memphis

South Dakota State

Tickets

Tyler Harris has made 10 3-pointers in the UofM's past two games.

Photo by: Eric Espada

Men's Basketball returns home to face South Dakota State

Dec 03, 2018 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. South Dakota State)South Dakota State Notes (vs. Memphis)

Tigers will play first home game since Nov. 17 against perennial NCAA team

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After playing four straight games in Florida, the University of Memphis men's basketball team returns home to the FedExForum at 8 p.m. Tuesday night to play South Dakota State. The Tigers shouldn't expect a warm welcome from their opponent.

South Dakota State (7-2) has appeared in three straight NCAA tournaments and is led by All-America candidate Mike Daum. A 6-foot-9 senior, Daum is averaging a double-double of 24.1 points and 11.2 rebounds, or roughly what he averaged last season.

Daum considered entering the NBA Draft after his junior season, but opted to return to give the Jackrabbits an opportunity to make a third straight NCAA tournament appearance.

"He has had a couple of games in his career where he's hit 40 (points) plus and one 50-plus game," Tiger coach Penny Hardaway said. "It doesn't matter who you do that on, you're an exciting player, a great player. He has over 2,400 points in his career. He's averaging a double-double. That team rallies around him."

The Tigers (3-4) are hoping to benefit from returning to the FedExForum to play their first home game since Nov. 17, when they defeated Yale in two overtimes, 109-102.

The UofM went 1-3 in Florida, beating Canisus in the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando, but losing to Oklahoma State, Charleston and No. 20 Texas Tech. The Texas Tech game was played in the Hoophall Miami Invitational, while the other three were held at Orlando's HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

"My thing is 40 minutes," Hardaway said. "We are going to have an unbelievable game plan for their team. We are going to have to compete for 40 minutes, not 30, not 20."

Memphis has been led recently from freshman guard Tyler Harris, a Cordova High product. Harris has been knocking down 3-pointers at a near-record pace.

"Tyler is a weapon and teams are going to try and take him out of his game," Hardaway said.

Hardaway said he'll start the same lineup of Mike Parks, Raynere Thornton, Jeremiah Martin, Alex Lomax and Harris he has been employing since the Nov. 23 win over Canisius.

The Tigers are beginning a stretch of six straight December home games and seven consecutive overall.

QUICK FACTS

Tigers freshman David Wingett made the trip to Miami, but did not play. Wingett missed the game with a lower left leg contusion suffered in practice last week and is day-to-day. He is not expected to play against South Dakota State.
South Dakota State has appeared in the past three NCAA tournaments.
South Dakota's Mike Daum, a 6-foot-9 All-America candidate, is averaging a double-double of 24.1 points and 11.2 rebounds. His has a nation-leading seven double-doubles.
Memphis last played South Dakota State on the same day – Dec. 4 – 42 years ago at the Mid-South Coliseum. The Tigers won, 109-76.