Tigers open Penny Hardaway era with huge exhibition win

Thursday, October 25

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

120

LeMoyne-Owen (exhibition)

LeMoyne-Owen

Memphis

120

Isaiah Maurice had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers in 120-66 win over LeMoyne-Owen

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers open Penny Hardaway era with huge exhibition win

Oct 25, 2018 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Harris, Davenport and Maurice pace lopsided victory over LeMoyne-Owen

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tyler Harris scored 26 points, Kyvon Davenport added 19 and Isaiah Maurice 18 to lead the University of Memphis to a 120-66 victory over LeMoyne-Owen Thursday night in an exhibition game at FedExForum.

With UofM coach Penny Hardaway, the former Tigers' All-American and NBA All-Star making his debut on the sidelines, the Tigers displayed some of Hardaway's characteristics as a player: they were unselfish (32 assists on 42 field goals) and they were accurate from long range (12 of 28 or 42.9 percent).

Overall, the Tigers shot 50.5 percent with Maurice (7-of-10) and Davenport (7-of-9) leading the way.

Hardaway said he was as pleased with his team's assist total as he was with its points total.

"I liked what I saw," Hardaway said. "I stressed moving the ball and my most proud stat was 32 assists. That is really sharing and distributing the ball. That is something we that we really want to continue to do."

The 5-9 Harris, who averaged 30 points as a senior last season at Cordova High, was part of a small starting lineup that included 5-10 Alex Lomax, who finished with a game-high nine assists.

Hardaway said there was a method to his decision.

"We wanted to go small because we felt we could be really fast," Hardaway said. "They (started) a small lineup as well. We felt we could match their speed with our speed. That's why we went small and it worked for us."

Hardaway started three guards – Jeremiah Martin, and freshmen Harris and Lomax – along with Davenport, a senior forward, and junior college transfer forward Isaiah Maurice.

The Tigers pulled away midway through the first half behind 3-pointers from Lomax and Harris and back-to-back dunks from Maurice on assists from Lomax and Martin. A 23-point lead at the time would swell to 31 points (51-20) shortly before halftime.

In the second half, Davenport drained four 3-pointers in the first six minutes to extend the Memphis advantage to 46 points.

Also in double figures for the Tigers were Raynere Thornton (18) and Martin (11). Kareem Brewton flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 10 rebounds, nine points and eight assists.

Memphis led 59-25 at the half behind a mixture of accuracy and unselfishness. The Tigers shot 55 percent, including 40 percent from beyond the arc. They also dished out 16 assists on 22 field goals.

Harris had 17 points in the first half and made four of his five 3-point attempts. Maurice scored the teams first four points on a pair of jump hooks and had 12 points and five rebounds in the opening half.

The Tigers limited LeMoyne-Owen to 30 percent shooting in the first half and 33.8 percent for the game. Devin Booker led the Magicians with 21 points.

Memphis completes its two-game exhibition schedule next Friday against Christian Brothers University at FedExForum.

NOTABLES

Memphis improved to 8-0 against LeMoyne-Owen (seven have been exhibitions). In those eight games, the Tigers have scored 100 or more points seven times. They scored 98 in the other game.
The Tigers played a game in October for the first time in the history of the program.
Injuries prevented Mike Parks Jr. and David Wingett from playing. Hardaway expects Wingett to return soon, but said Parks' return may be slightly longer.
Memphis forced 27 turnovers and scored 32 points off them.
The Tigers' speed created 44 fast-break points. LeMoyne-Owen had 17.