Tigers Host 10-win Albany Tuesday At 8 p.m. At FedExForum

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As early season challenges go, the University of Memphis will have a daunting one Tuesday night at FedExForum.

The Tigers (6-2) will play host to an impressive Albany team in the Houzz Gotham Classic presented by TicketIQ. The Great Danes are off to a 10-1 start this season, a sizzling beginning owed in part to a wealth of experience. Albany has returned 77 percent of its points from a year ago and is the fourth opponent this season the U of M has played that was picked to finish second in its respective conference preseason poll. Northern Kentucky, UAB and Samford are the others.

Memphis will enter with some momentum, too. The Tigers have won each of their six home games and are on a three-game winning streak. Also, freshman guard Jamal Johnson, who was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time last weekend, is coming off an 18-point performance in last weekend's 90-72 victory over Bryant.

Johnson, the top-ranked recruit in the American Athletic Conference last year, earned the league's Rookie of the Week award for his sharp shooting against Bryant and his clutch shooting against Samford. Johnson found himself in the right place at the right time Tuesday against Samford, snaring a missed runner in the lane by Jimario Rivers and tossing it back in with 2.5 seconds left. Johnson added a free throw to complete the three-point play and give the Tigers a dramatic come-from-four-points-behind-in-the-final-16-seconds victory.

Albany has appeared in three NCAA tournaments the past five years and, along with Memphis, the two schools have combined for12 conference tournament titles and 13 NCAA tournament appearances since 2005-06.

The Tigers will wrap up a four-game homestand with Tuesday's game against Albany, which will be carried by ESPNU. Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Brooke Wiesbrod (analyst) will be the announcers.

Game Quick Facts

Opponent	Albany
Day/Date	Tuesday, Dec. 11
Time	8 p.m. (CT)
Site	Memphis, Tenn./FedExForum
Television	ESPNU (Web: ESPN3.com)
Radio (Flagship)	600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)

Head coach Tubby Smith
"It's a test every time we go on the court. Our defense has been getting better and that's been a big help. We've made the stops when necessary."

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know
·       Tuesday's match-up is the first meeting between the two programs. Since 2000, the Tigers are 38-5 when playing an opponent for the first time. They are 2-0 this season against first-time opposition.
·      When the Tigers share the ball, victories usually follow. In their six victories, the Tigers are averaging 15.7 assists. They had a season-best 26 in their 90-72 victory over Bryant Saturday. In their two losses, the Tigers are averaging only 8 assists.
·      Albany is not intimidated playing on the road. The Great Danes are 4-1 away from the SEFCU Arena in Albany. Their only loss this season has been to Monmouth, which defeated the Great Danes, 81-73, Nov. 27.
·       Memphis is facing a current member of the America East Conference for the first time, as is Tiger coach Tubby Smith. The America East Conference has been in existence since 1979 and the current members are: Albany, Binghamton, Hartford, Maine, UMBC, UMass Lowell, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Vermont.
·       In four of its six victories, Memphis has had to rally from first-half, double-digit deficits. The largest came against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 25 when the Tigers had to come back from a 16-point deficit to win, 76-74. Memphis also trailed by 14 (21-7) against Little Rock on Nov. 14 before claiming a 70-62 win.
—gotigersgo.com—

University of Memphis Athletics

Tigers Host 10-win Albany Tuesday At 8 p.m. At FedExForum

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Jimario Rivers

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