Tigers Fall to Tulane

Saturday, January 3

Memphis, Tenn.

5 PM

University of Memphis

8-5, 1-1

Tulane

11-3, 2-0

Tulane

Memphis

Jan 03, 2015 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Jan. 3, 2015

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Box Score (PDF)  

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Despite a career-high scoring performance from Austin Nichols, the Tigers fell to Tulane 74-66 at FedExForum on Saturday evening.

Nichols finished with 28 points on 13-19 shooting, breaking his previous high of 20 he set against Nicholls State on November 23, 2013. The sophomore forward added nine rebounds and four blocks, his 11th multi-block game of the season. He also knocked down his first career three-pointer with a shot from the corner late in the first half.

It was the first time Memphis (8-5, 1-1 AAC) has lost to the Green Wave (11-3, 2-0 AAC) since 2000 and the first time in Memphis since 1992 when the Tulane beat the Tigers at The Pyramid.

With Memphis trailing by one with 9:54 remaining, Nichols scored on three straight possessions to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis would hold the lead for a while, pushing it to five with another Nichols layup with 4:19 remaining. However, Tulane answered back with a big three pointer from Jonathan Stark to make it 62-60, and then tied it up with a layup following a missed three pointer from Pookie Powell.  

Powell was fouled going to the hoop on the next possession and hit 1-of-2 from the line, giving Memphis its final lead with 3:27 to go. It was Stark once again who hurt the Tigers as he hit a high-arching three pointer to give the Green Wave a two-point lead. Stark finished with 24 points.

After a turnover, Shaq Goodwin picked up his fifth foul, meaning the Tigers had to play the final 2:28 without its top rebounder. Tulane missed the one-and-one, but another quick turnover allowed a layup, giving the Green Wave a two possession lead.

Tulane pushed the lead to 72-63 when D'Marnie Cunningham stopped the 15-1 run with a three pointer to bring Memphis within six. However Memphis would not score again as Tulane was able to run out the clock after a couple more possessions.

Goodwin joined Nichols in double-figure scoring. The junior forward dropped in 14 points on a perfect 4-4 from the field. He was a single rebound shy of his second double-double of the season. Powell had six points and nine assists in the game at the point guard position.

Memphis finished shooting 43.0 percent (25-57), while allowing Tulane to shoot 44.4 percent (28-63). The Tigers were outscored 44-42 in the paint, and Tulane turned 16 Memphis turnovers into 24 points. Memphis held a 39-37 advantage on the boards, and were able to score 25 second chance points off of its 17 offensive rebounds.

Memphis hits the road to play at SMU on Jan. 8, for the first of a two-game road trip. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. on ESPN 2. 