Tigers Take Down VCU in Overtime

Wednesday, December 6

Richmond, Va.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

6-2,0-0AAC

VCU

4-5,0-0Atlantic 10

OT 1

Memphis

VCU

Dec 06, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Memphis men's basketball team got back to its winning ways Wednesday night, defeating VCU 85-80 in overtime at the Siegel Center.

David Jones led the way with 23 points, eight rebounds and four steals, while Jahvon Quinerly posted 20 points and six assists.

Caleb Mills added a season-high 17 points off the bench in 29 minutes.

The Tigers (6-2) struggled from the floor to begin the night, hitting just four of their first 16 shots over the first 11-plus minutes. The Rams, on the other hand, converted on 8-of-10 field goals to take a 22-13.

Memphis responded with a 9-0 run to pull the game even behind a three ball from Jayden Hardaway and back-to-back buckets down low from Malcolm Dandridge, but VCU took a 36-32 lead into the break behind 51.6 percent shooting and eight offensive rebounds.

The Rams (4-5) maintained their lead and got out in front by as many as five midway through the second half, the largest advantage for either side in the final 20 minutes.

Quinerly put the Tigers up 71-70 on a driving layup with 54 seconds to play in regulation, but the Rams responded with a bucket from Toibu Lawal to regain the lead. Dandridge was fouled in the final seconds and made a free throw to send the game to extra time.

Jaykwon Walton came off the bench to start the overtime period and came up with a huge triple in the first possession. The sides went back-and-forth before Memphis came away with clutch stops and sealed the 85-80 win at the free throw line.

Memphis shot 47.4 percent for the game (27-57) and nailed 38.1 percent from long distance (8-21). The Tigers drained 23-of-29 at the charity stripe, their second-highest total of the season.

VCU hit 42.0 percent from the field (26-69) and 24.1 percent from three-point range (7-29).

Lawal led the way for the Rams with 16 points and eight rebounds. VCU also got 14 points, five assists and two steals from Max Shulga.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of Jahvon Quinery, David Jones, Ashton Hardaway, Nicholas Jourdain and Malcolm Dandridge for the first time this season.
- It's the third different lineup for the Tigers this season.
- Ashton Hardaway made his first-career collegiate start
Memphis' victory marked the first overtime win since Feb. 29, 2020 at Tulane.
On his 11^th point of the night, Jones reached 1,000 points for his career.
Jones has now led Memphis in scoring five times this season, with all of them coming in the last six outings.
- He has scored in double figures in all eight games and reached 20-plus four times.
Quinerly and Jones each recorded their 14^th-career game of 20 or more points.
Dandridge finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Memphis out-rebounded VCU 39-37, despite giving up 17 offensive rebounds.
The Tigers turned the ball over a season-high 18 times, leading to 12 points for the Rams.

UP NEXT
Memphis will continue its tough road trip Sunday at No. 21 Texas A&M with a 3 p.m. tip on ESPN2.

It will be the first visit to College Station for the Tigers since Dec. 13, 1965.

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.