Men's basketball set for final preseason tune-up

Jayden Hardaway had 5 points in 17 minutes against CBU.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Oct 27, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Tigers will meet LeMoyne-Owen at 7 Monday night at FedExForum

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It will be the final tune-up before the beginning of the highly anticipated regular season.

Monday at 7 p.m. the University of Memphis will play host to LeMoyne-Owen in an exhibition game at FedExForum.

The Tigers played the first of their two exhibitions last week against Christian Brothers University and posted an 86-53 victory. Freshman forward Precious Achiuwa led the Tigers with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks, while D.J. Jeffries, also a freshman forward, added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Memphis got 12 points from Lance Thomas, who made his UofM debut, and 10 points from sophomore guard Alex Lomax, one of three returnees.

Against CBU, the Tigers shot 48 percent and had 22 assists on 29 field goals made. They also blocked 15 shots.

The Tigers outscored CBU, 44-20, in the second half and held the Bucs to 17 percent shooting.

Ranked 14^th in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll, the UofM brought in the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, led by Achiuwa and 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman, the nation's top-ranked high school recruit after a stellar career at East High. Wiseman missed the CBU exhibition with an ankle injury.

Memphis begins the season ranked in the preseason polls for the first time since 2013. The Tigers also are No. 15 in the USA Today coaches' poll.

Memphis opens the regular season Nov. 5 at home against South Carolina State.