University of Memphis Athletics
Monday, December 30
Memphis, Tenn.
8 PM
University of Memphis
vs
Tulane
Boogie Ellis (5) has started all 12 games and leads the team with 23 steals.
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Tigers open AAC play Monday at 8 p.m.
Dec 29, 2019 | Men's Basketball
No. 9 UofM faces improving Tulane led by ex-Tiger K.J. Lawson
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Riding a nine-game winning streak, the University of Memphis opens American Athletic Conference play Monday night at FedExForum with intentions of finishing the month of December unbeaten.
The ninth-ranked Tigers (11-1), who defeated New Orleans, 97-55, Saturday, play host to Tulane in a game that tips off at 8 p.m. CBS Sports Network will carry the game.
Memphis is 5-0 in December and hasn't lost since dropping an 82-74 decision to sixth-ranked Oregon Nov. 12 in Portland. Among the Tigers' victories during the nine-game winning streak are wins over Ole Miss, NC State and Tennessee.
What has aided the team's success during the past month-and-a-half has been impressive defense. The Tigers have held seven of the nine victims to less than 40 percent shooting. In last weekend's win over New Orleans, the Tigers limited the Privateers to 29 percent shooting. In the previous weekend's victory over Jackson State, the Tigers forced JSU into a 32-percent shooting day.
"Defensively -- in the halfcourt, guarding the 3-point line, outrebounding teams – we're playing well," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "We're not winning the free-throw battle like we want to. But if we continue to do what we're doing, we're going to be fine because we're playing good basketball."
New Orleans connected on only three of 17 (17.6 percent) 3-point tries. Jackson State was three-of-15 (20 percent). In a 51-47 Tigers' win at Knoxville Dec. 7, the Vols were four-of-26 from 3-point range.
Where the Tigers must improve is eliminating turnovers. They committed 28 against Jackson State and 27 against New Orleans.
Memphis has been getting consistently strong performances from freshman forward Precious Achiuwa and sophomore guard Alex Lomax. Achiuwa is averaging 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Lomax is coming off the bench to average 4.5 assists, second in the conference.
Hardaway said Achiuwa's in-season growth has been the result of acclimating to the speed of the college game.
"When he first came on campus everything was fast," Hardaway said. "Once the season started, he wanted to show his perimeter game. I think he's mixing it up better, more in the paint than on the perimeter. Man, he's scoring at a high percentage down there."
The Tigers also will be bolstered by freshman guard Lester Quinones, who returned against New Orleans after missing a month with two broken bones in his shooting hand. Quinones scored 13 points against UNO.
Tulane is led by Memphian and former Tiger K.J. Lawson, who is averaging 14 points per game in his first season since transferring from Kansas. The Green Wave is 8-4 overall, winning four more games this season than they did in 2018-19.
NOTES
The ninth-ranked Tigers (11-1), who defeated New Orleans, 97-55, Saturday, play host to Tulane in a game that tips off at 8 p.m. CBS Sports Network will carry the game.
Memphis is 5-0 in December and hasn't lost since dropping an 82-74 decision to sixth-ranked Oregon Nov. 12 in Portland. Among the Tigers' victories during the nine-game winning streak are wins over Ole Miss, NC State and Tennessee.
What has aided the team's success during the past month-and-a-half has been impressive defense. The Tigers have held seven of the nine victims to less than 40 percent shooting. In last weekend's win over New Orleans, the Tigers limited the Privateers to 29 percent shooting. In the previous weekend's victory over Jackson State, the Tigers forced JSU into a 32-percent shooting day.
"Defensively -- in the halfcourt, guarding the 3-point line, outrebounding teams – we're playing well," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "We're not winning the free-throw battle like we want to. But if we continue to do what we're doing, we're going to be fine because we're playing good basketball."
New Orleans connected on only three of 17 (17.6 percent) 3-point tries. Jackson State was three-of-15 (20 percent). In a 51-47 Tigers' win at Knoxville Dec. 7, the Vols were four-of-26 from 3-point range.
Where the Tigers must improve is eliminating turnovers. They committed 28 against Jackson State and 27 against New Orleans.
Memphis has been getting consistently strong performances from freshman forward Precious Achiuwa and sophomore guard Alex Lomax. Achiuwa is averaging 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Lomax is coming off the bench to average 4.5 assists, second in the conference.
Hardaway said Achiuwa's in-season growth has been the result of acclimating to the speed of the college game.
"When he first came on campus everything was fast," Hardaway said. "Once the season started, he wanted to show his perimeter game. I think he's mixing it up better, more in the paint than on the perimeter. Man, he's scoring at a high percentage down there."
The Tigers also will be bolstered by freshman guard Lester Quinones, who returned against New Orleans after missing a month with two broken bones in his shooting hand. Quinones scored 13 points against UNO.
Tulane is led by Memphian and former Tiger K.J. Lawson, who is averaging 14 points per game in his first season since transferring from Kansas. The Green Wave is 8-4 overall, winning four more games this season than they did in 2018-19.
NOTES
- In its past two games (wins over Jackson State and New Orleans), the Memphis bench has dominated. Tiger reserves have outscored the opposition, 77-10.
- Memphis freshman forward Precious Achiuwa leads the conference in rebounding with a 9.8 average.
- The Tigers are shooting 47.2 percent through 12 games to lead the AAC. Memphis shot 52.4 percent against New Orleans and 55.2 percent against Jackson State.
- The Tigers also lead the AAC in field goal percentage defense (34.4).
- Ex-Tiger K.J. Lawson was the AAC Rookie of the Year for the 2016-17 season playing for Memphis. He averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Players Mentioned
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