No. 9/10 Tigers Off to Best Start Since 2010-11 after 69-61 Win over Virginia Tech

Wednesday, November 24

Brooklyn, N.Y. / Barclays Center

8:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-0,0-0AAC

RV/RV Virginia Tech

5-1,0-0ACC

Memphis

Virginia Tech

Photo by: Henry Paulk

No. 9/10 Tigers Off to Best Start Since 2010-11 after 69-61 Win over Virginia Tech

Nov 25, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The No. 9/10 Memphis Tigers improved to 5-0 on the season, their best start since 2010-11, with a key 69-61 win over RV/RV Virginia Tech in the NIT Season Tip-Off Wednesday night in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Memphis (5-0) faced challenges from the Hokies (5-1) throughout the night but locked down down the stretch to secure the win. The Tigers committed only four turnovers in the second 20 minutes, and after a 7-0 Hokie run gave Virginia Tech a 56-55 lead with 4:41 to play the Tigers ripped off 10-straight points to regain a nine-point advantage.

The Hokie run was stopped by a Landers Nolley II 3-pointer, with the redshirt-junior playing against his old school Wednesday night.

Additionally, after Virginia Tech went 5-for-9 from 3-point range in the first half, the Tigers held them to 2-of-12 from behind the arc in the second half.

DeAndre Williams led the Tigers with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Malcolm Dandridge added eight points and eight rebounds in 17 stellar minutes off the bench. Alex Lomax added seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 20 minutes in reserve.

After both were held scoreless in the first half, Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren finished with nine and six points, respectively, and Duren added seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Twenty-six of Memphis' 69 points came from the bench. The Tigers outrebounded Virginia Tech, 45-33, with 15 coming on the offensive end.

Memphis was 16-for-20 from the free throw line (.800).

Virginia Tech was led by Nahiem Alleyne's 21 points.

UP NEXT
Memphis finishes its time in the NIT Season Tip-Off Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT against Iowa State, who defeated No. 25/RV Xavier in the night's other semifinal. Next week, the Tigers play at Georgia Wednesday and at Ole Miss next Saturday, before returning to FedExForum to face Murray State (Dec. 10) and Alabama (Dec. 14).

Tickets and mini plans for 2021-22 are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of Emoni Bates, Landers Nolley II, Lester Quinones, DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for the first time this season.
- It was Memphis' third starting lineup in five games.
- Nolley II made his first start of the season, and Alex Lomax had started all four previous games for the Tigers.
The Tigers started the 2010-11 season 7-0.
Memphis now leads the all-time series between the two schools, 19-12.
The Tigers improved to 8-7 all-time in the Preseason NIT/NIT Season Tip-Off.
The Tigers have won nine-straight games dating back to last season.
- Memphis has now won five-straight neutral site contests.
Memphis has outrebounded all five of its opponents this season.
- The Tigers were 17-3 when outrebounding their foes a season ago.
DeAndre Williams notched his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
- He had three double-doubles in 2020-21.
Alex Lomax' seven points are a season high.
Before scoring eight points in Wednesday's game, Malcolm Dandridge had scored seven in the previous four games of the season combined.
- He had five total rebounds on the year before grabbing eight against Virginia Tech, two shy of his career high of 10 (at Tulsa, 1/17/21).

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.