Tigers beat CBU, 86-53, in exhibition

Thursday, October 24

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

0-0,0-0AAC

Christian Brothers (Exh.)

0-0,0-0Gulf South

Christian Brothers

Memphis

Lester Quinones and D.J. Jeffries, 2019-20 basketball

Lester Quinones (11) and D.J. Jeffries (0) celebrate during Thursday's win over CBU.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Oct 24, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Memphis Postgame Quotes Gamebook (UM 86, CBU 53)

Newcomers Achiuwa and Jeffries lead UofM in team's 2019-20 debut

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It wasn't the performance University of Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway was hoping for, but for a first exhibition game with eight players making their Tigers' debut, it was a victory.

Getting 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks from freshman forward Precious Achiuwa and 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks from another freshman forward, D.J. Jeffries, the Tigers defeated Christian Brothers University, 86-53, Thursday night at FedExForum before 15,403.

The Tigers overcame a sluggish first half by shooting 48 percent, getting 22 assists on 29 field goals made and blocking 15 shots. In the opening 20 minutes, the Tigers were slowed by turnovers and being outrebounded, 18-16.

"The first half was very disappointing," Hardaway said. "They were so anxious to get on the floor and play their first game against someone else. It worked against them. We couldn't do anything right defensively and offensively we didn't share the ball enough. It just seemed like everything in the first half was ugly."

The Tigers recovered nicely in the second half. They limited CBU to 17 percent shooting (5-of-29) and blocked 11 shots.

"I think we needed a game like this to get the kinks out the way now," said Jeffries.

Achiuwa, who was a 5-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, drew 11 fouls and made 10-of-12 free throws.

"In the second half, the game came to me the way it's supposed to be played," Achiuwa said. "After halftime, I sat down and evaluated my game and just came out and played."

The Tigers pulled away behind a 16-0 run early in the second half and, defensively, limited CBU to 3-of-21 shooting in the first 13 minutes.

In addition to Achiuwa and Jeffries, the Tigers got 12 points from Lance Thomas, also making his UofM debut, and 10 from sophomore guard Alex Lomax, one of three returnees. Thomas added 4 blocks and Tyler Harris had a team-high 7 assists.

CBU was led by Nick Deifel, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In the first half, the Tigers shot 51.6 to take a 42-33 lead.

The UofM never trailed in the opening half, although CBU kept it close with its advantage on the boards. The Tigers built an early 13-4 lead behind 3-pointers by Jeffries, Boogie Ellis and Thomas in the opening five minutes.

CBU chipped away and trimmed the Memphis advantage to two points, 22-20, with about 10 minutes left in the half on a tip-in by Deifel.

Memphis plays the second of its two exhibition games at 7 p.m. Monday against LeMoyne-Owen at FedExForum before opening the regular season Nov. 5 against South Carolina State.

TIGER NOTEBOOK

Tigers 7-foot-1 freshman center James Wiseman did not play because of a right ankle injury. Coach Penny Hardaway said he hopes Wiseman, a preseason All-American, is available for Monday's exhibition against LeMoyne-Owen.
Tigers freshman guard Damion Baugh was injured early in the second half after colliding with CBU's Jacob Lyons. Baugh did not return to the game.