Tigers to play CBU in second preseason exhibition

Friday, November 2

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

Christian Brothers (exhibition)

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Coach Penny Hardaway will lead the Tigers into their second exhibition Friday against CBU.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Nov 01, 2018 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. Christian Brothers)Christian Brothers Notes (vs. Memphis)

First-year coach Hardaway hopes to build on first exhibtion

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – One more warm-up remains for the University of Memphis men's basketball team, which opened its two-game exhibition season last week in impressive and emphatic fashion.

Relying on unselfishness and accurate shooting, the Tigers began the Penny Hardaway coaching era with a 120-66 victory over LeMoyne-Owen at FedExForum. Friday night at FedExForum, the Tigers will play host to another local college opponent by welcoming Christian Brothers University. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

In the win over LeMoyne-Owen, the Tigers dished out 32 assists on 42 field goals and shot 50.5 percent. Starters Isaiah Maurice (7-of-10) and Kyvon Davenport (7-of-9) led the sharp-shooting Tigers, who got a game-high 26 points from freshman Tyler Harris, a Cordova High product, 19 from Davenport and 18 each from Maurice and Raynere Thornton.

Freshman guard Alex Lomax had nine assists, Kareem Brewton followed with eight and Jeremiah Martin, a preseason first-team selection in the American Athletic Conference, finished with seven. Brewton, a 6-2 guard, had 10 rebounds to lead the Tigers.

While Hardaway was generally pleased with the effort against LeMoyne-Owen, he understands preparations remain.

"Right now, we are still in the teaching phase as coaches and we are using these exhibition games to get ready for the (season-opening game)," Hardaway said. "Hopefully, as the season goes on, everything will fall into place and I won't have to push (the players) as hard.

Against CBU, the Tigers are expected to have freshman wing David Wingett available after he missed the exhibition opener recovering from an injury. Forward Mike Parks, a returning starter, did not play against LeMoyne-Owen because of a back condition and is not likely to play against CBU.

Maurice, a former Kansas State player, got the start against LeMoyne-Owen and looked comfortable in the low post. He dropped in two jump hooks early in the game to help the Tigers jump to a 7-0 lead. Later, he added two dunks off assists from Lomax and Martin.

"When you get on the floor, you want to play as hard as you can," Maurice said. "It goes all the way back to the (workouts in the) summer. Coach pushed us so hard in practice that we get out there on the floor (in games) and want everyone else to feel our pain."

After Friday's exhibition, the Tigers open the season Nov. 6 at home against Tennessee Tech.