Tigers to Battle Nationally Ranked Mustangs

Thursday, February 25

Memphis, Tenn.

6 pm CT

University of Memphis

#24 SMU

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 24, 2016 | Men's Basketball

GAME INFORMATION
Memphis (15-12, 6-8 AAC) vs. No. 24 SMU (22-4, 10-4 AAC)
When: Thursday, February 25
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. (CT)
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Arena: FedExForum
TV: ESPN2
Mike Patrick, play-by-play
Len Elmore, analyst
Radio: Memphis Radio Network / 600 WREC
Dave Woloshin, play-by-play
Matt Dillon, analyst
Forrest Goodman, pregame/postgame host
Live Stats: Memphis Stat Broadcast
Game Notes: Memphis | SMU
Rosters: Memphis | SMU
Schedules: Memphis | SMU
Media Guide: Memphis | SMU

SETTING THE TABLE

•     Dedric Lawson has recorded a double-double in five straight game, tied for the 14th-longest such streak in program history. The longest stretch of consecutive double-doubles in school history is 13 held by Larry Kenon
•     In addition to his double-double streak, Dedric Lawson also has the 20th-most double-doubles in a single season in school history (Page 5), and the third-most by a true-freshman in school history
•     The game against SMU features players that hold the top four single-game rebounding marks in American Athletic Conference history. Both Shaq Goodwin and Jordan Tolbert are tied for the top spot (23), and tied for third (19)
•     Memphis junior Avery Woodson stands five three-point makes away from climbing into the 10th spot in single-season three-pointers, and his career total of 125 is 18 away from 10th on the career list as well
•     Shaq Goodwin and Ricky Tarrant Jr. are adding their names in the free throw record book, as Goodwin's career total of 367 makes is the eight-highest career total in program history, and his 129 makes are 22 away from 10th overall, while Tarrant's 125 this season are just a shade behind Goodwin
•     The Memphis rebounding duo of Dedric Lawson and Shaq Goodwin not only combine to lead the American Athletic Conference in rebounds, but rank sixth as a pair in the country

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

SMU comes into the Thursday game ranked 24th in the country in the Associated Press poll; however, have split its last nine games for a 5-4 record in that span.
In the Mustangs' last win, a 74-63 home win over East Carolina, Nic Moore scored a game-high 22 points with seven assists, while Markus Kennedy scored 19. Jordan Tolbert recorded a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Shake Milton scored 10 points.
For the year, Moore, the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, leads the team with a 16.8 point per game scoring average, while Ben Moore stands second among active players, averaging 11.9 points per game.

MEMPHIS VS. THE LONE STAR STATE

Thursday's opponent, SMU, resides in Texas, which has 23 Division I schools. The Tigers have a 118-46 record against those, and have played 20 of the 23 teams (with the only exceptions being Texas State, recent Division I addition Incarnate Word, and new school UTRGV (University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley).

CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Over the last five games, Memphis freshman forward Dedric Lawson has been putting up double-doubles, including a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double against South Florida on February 20. Lawson's total puts him in a tie for the 14th-longest such streak in program history.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

Not only is Dedric Lawson's double-double total among the best in the country, and third-most by a freshman in program history, it is also tied for the 20th-highest single-season total in school history. Below is the full list of the top-20 players in single-season double-doubles.

HIGH REBOUNDS

The game on Thursday features two players that share each of the top four spots in the American Athletic Conference rebounding record book. Last season Memphis' Shaq Goodwin pulled down 23 rebounds against Temple, a mark that set the AAC rebounding record. Early in 2015-16 Goodwin put his name in the No. 2 spot in the record book with 19 rebounds against UT Arlington. Over back-to-back days, SMU's Jordan Tolbert tied each of Goodwin's marks with 23 rebounds against Nicholls State (December 16), and 19 against Hampton on December 17 (now tied for third overall).

LONG-RANGE WEAPON

With his 64 made three-pointers this season, junior guard Avery Woodson is quickly etching his name as one of the top long-range threats in Memphis basketball history. His 64 made three-pointers this season stand five away from No. 10 on the single season list, currently held by Anfernee Hardaway. His career makes total of 125 stand 18 away from No. 10 on that list, currently occupied by Elliot Perry. His career three-point percentage of .398 stands third all-time, behind Antonio Barton (.417) and ahead of Harry Allen (.394).

PRIZED ROOKIE

Through the first 15 weeks of the 2015-16 season, Memphis freshman Dedric Lawson has been named American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week six times, the highest single-season total in AAC history. Below are the all-time leaders in the number of Rookie of the Week honors.

"FREE" THROW RECORDS

Similarly to the long-range record attack from Avery Woodson, the senior duo of Shaq Goodwin and Ricky Tarrant Jr. are making a full-out assault on the school record books at the charity stripe. Goodwin's career free throw total of 367 made free throws ranks as the eighth-most in a career in school history, and is 10 makes away from taking sole possession of seventh overall. Goodwin's 129 makes this season are 22 away from 10th overall for a season, while Tarrant's 125 makes are 26 away from the same total.

TRIPLE, DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Earlier this season against UT Arlington three Memphis players reached double-figures in the rebounding column, as Shaq Goodwin pulled down 19 rebounds, Trahson Burrell 12, and Dedric Lawson 10; however, against Tulane the same trio each recorded double-doubles, Lawson with 25 points/16 rebounds, Goodwin with 15 points/10 rebounds, and Burrell 12 points/11 rebounds. Each was the first time that a Tiger squad accomplished the feat since March 7, 2009, when Robert Dozier (16 points/12 rebounds), Tyreke Evans (17 points/10 rebounds), and Shawn Taggart (14 points/10 rebounds) all recorded double-doubles in the same game in a 74-47 regular season finale win over Tulane.