University of Memphis Athletics
Monday, December 30
Memphis, Tenn.
8 PM
University of Memphis
12-1,1-0AAC
84
vs
73
Tulane
8-5,0-1AAC
1
2
F
Tulane
30
43
73
Memphis
40
44
84
D.J. Jeffries (0) had 14 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds in an 84-73 win over Tulane.
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers open conference play with a double-digit victory over Tulane
Dec 30, 2019 | Men's Basketball
UofM shoots 54 percent, dominates boards to win its 10th-straight game
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Balanced scoring, a season-high 24 team assists and another double-double from Precious Achiuwa helped the ninth-ranked University of Memphis men's basketball team open American Athletic Conference play Monday night on a successful note.
Lester Quinones scored 16 points, Damion Baugh added 15, D.J. Jeffries and Achiuwa had 14 each and Tyler Harris contributed 12 to lead the Tigers to their 10th-straight victory, an 84-73 decision over Tulane. Achiuwa led the UofM with 10 rebounds and Jeffries had seven. Jeffries and Alex Lomax had eight assists each.
The Tigers (12-1) shot 54 percent – including 61 percent in the second half – and outrebounded the Green Wave, 41-29. The UofM, which had averaged 27.5 turnovers in its previous two games, more than cut its mistakes in half, finishing with 12 against an opponent forcing 17 per game.
Overall, it was an effort Memphis coach Penny Hardaway applauded, particularly since Tulane (8-5) made a strong run in the closing minutes to cut the Tigers' lead to three points (74-71) with 3:34 to go.
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Hardaway said. "I'm proud of the boys."
Hardaway credited his team's ability to protect the basketball to effective "game-planning against the zone."
"They are one of the best teams in the country in turning you over with their length in that zone," Hardaway said. "It's in the passing lanes and reading your eyes. They have done a really good job of that in the other games in reading your eyes."
The Tigers led 69-57 with less than eight minutes remaining, taking the 12-point lead on a strong move inside from Jeffries. But Tulane fought back behind Memphian and former Tiger K.J. Lawson, who finished with a game-high 22 points in his first game at FedExForum since 2017.
Jordan Walker also kept the Green Wave close with a mix of strong drives and outside shooting. He scored Tulane's last nine points.
Ahead by 10 at the half the Tigers quickly boosted their advantage to 14 on consecutive dunks by Achiuwa.
Tulane trimmed the Memphis lead to single digits on several occasions, but the Tigers always had an answer, including one in the final minutes
"I think it was a good test," Jeffries said. "They tested us. They have really good guards and Georgia (the Tigers' next opponent) has really good guards. We'll have to be ready."
Although the Tigers fell behind by 11 early in the first half (their largest deficit at home this season), they recovered behind the shooting of Quinones and the toughness of Baugh and led at the break, 40-30.
Quinones came off the bench to shoot the Tigers back into the game. He entered with the Tigers trailing 8-1 and scored 11 points in a six-minute stretch to trim the deficit to a single point (17-16).
Achiuwa gave the Tigers their first lead of the half by converting an and-one with 10:28 to go. Tulane briefly regained the advantage and led 30-27 with 4:50 remaining before Baugh closed the half with some gritty play. He scored six of the team's final eight points of the half, including a putback in the closing seconds following two offensive rebounds.
Baugh and Quinones had 11 points apiece at the half, one in which the Tigers shot 48.6 percent and outrebounded the Green Wave, 23-16.
Memphis ends its four-game homestand Saturday with its final non-conference game, a noon tip against Georgia at FedExForum.
NOTABLES
Lester Quinones scored 16 points, Damion Baugh added 15, D.J. Jeffries and Achiuwa had 14 each and Tyler Harris contributed 12 to lead the Tigers to their 10th-straight victory, an 84-73 decision over Tulane. Achiuwa led the UofM with 10 rebounds and Jeffries had seven. Jeffries and Alex Lomax had eight assists each.
The Tigers (12-1) shot 54 percent – including 61 percent in the second half – and outrebounded the Green Wave, 41-29. The UofM, which had averaged 27.5 turnovers in its previous two games, more than cut its mistakes in half, finishing with 12 against an opponent forcing 17 per game.
Overall, it was an effort Memphis coach Penny Hardaway applauded, particularly since Tulane (8-5) made a strong run in the closing minutes to cut the Tigers' lead to three points (74-71) with 3:34 to go.
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Hardaway said. "I'm proud of the boys."
Hardaway credited his team's ability to protect the basketball to effective "game-planning against the zone."
"They are one of the best teams in the country in turning you over with their length in that zone," Hardaway said. "It's in the passing lanes and reading your eyes. They have done a really good job of that in the other games in reading your eyes."
The Tigers led 69-57 with less than eight minutes remaining, taking the 12-point lead on a strong move inside from Jeffries. But Tulane fought back behind Memphian and former Tiger K.J. Lawson, who finished with a game-high 22 points in his first game at FedExForum since 2017.
Jordan Walker also kept the Green Wave close with a mix of strong drives and outside shooting. He scored Tulane's last nine points.
Ahead by 10 at the half the Tigers quickly boosted their advantage to 14 on consecutive dunks by Achiuwa.
Tulane trimmed the Memphis lead to single digits on several occasions, but the Tigers always had an answer, including one in the final minutes
"I think it was a good test," Jeffries said. "They tested us. They have really good guards and Georgia (the Tigers' next opponent) has really good guards. We'll have to be ready."
Although the Tigers fell behind by 11 early in the first half (their largest deficit at home this season), they recovered behind the shooting of Quinones and the toughness of Baugh and led at the break, 40-30.
Quinones came off the bench to shoot the Tigers back into the game. He entered with the Tigers trailing 8-1 and scored 11 points in a six-minute stretch to trim the deficit to a single point (17-16).
Achiuwa gave the Tigers their first lead of the half by converting an and-one with 10:28 to go. Tulane briefly regained the advantage and led 30-27 with 4:50 remaining before Baugh closed the half with some gritty play. He scored six of the team's final eight points of the half, including a putback in the closing seconds following two offensive rebounds.
Baugh and Quinones had 11 points apiece at the half, one in which the Tigers shot 48.6 percent and outrebounded the Green Wave, 23-16.
Memphis ends its four-game homestand Saturday with its final non-conference game, a noon tip against Georgia at FedExForum.
NOTABLES
- The Memphis bench was dominating again. It outscored Tulane's,37-19, and has outscored the last three opponents' benches, 114-29.
- Damion Baugh left late in the second half with a right shoulder injury. Coach Penny Hardaway called it a "stinger."
- The 24 assists were a season-high for the Tigers.
- The 11-point Tulane lead in the first half represented the biggest deficit the Tigers have faced at home this season.
Team Stats
Tulane
Mem
FG%
.403
.540
3FG%
.320
.346
FT%
.833
.467
RB
29
41
TO
10
12
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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