Tigers stage huge rally, knock off UAB

Saturday, December 7

Birmingham, Ala.

4:30 PM

University of Memphis

8-1

UAB

4-4

Memphis

UAB

Precious Achiuwa had a 14 points (13 in the second half) to help Tigers beat UAB.

Photo by: Karen Pulfer Focht

Dec 07, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Boxscore (UM 65, UAB 57)

Achiuwa, Lomax and Jeffries key second-half come-from-behind victory.

By: Phil Stukenborg

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In one of the more dramatic comebacks in the history of the program, the University of Memphis finished in impressive fashion to defeat UAB, 65-57, Saturday in the Bartow Classic at Bartow Arena.

Outscoring the Blazers 16-2 in the game's final four minutes, the 15^th-ranked Tigers overcame a first-half deficit of 20 points and a second-half deficit of 17 to record a memorable win for second-year coach Penny Hardaway.

"It was a sweet finish after a horrible first half," Hardaway said.

The Tigers (8-1) shot 25 percent in the first half and were outrebounded by eight, but they recovered in the second half outscoring the Blazers, 39-17. Precious Achiuwa led the Tigers with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 13 points in the second half.

Alex Lomax also was a significant factor in the victory, as was D.J. Jeffries. Lomax scored all 10 of his points in the second half, including converting two key and-ones. Jeffries also finished with 10 points and, like Lomax, scored all of them after halftime.

Lomax and Achiuwa combined for 13 of the team's final 16 points. Achiuwa's tip-in with three minutes remaining gave the Tigers a 56-55 lead, their first of the game since the opening three minutes. Lomax's three-point play with 3:30 left brought the Tigers to within one, 55-54.

"A-Lo has been (played) big the last few games (especially) down the stretch," Achiuwa said.

Lomax scored a career-high 17 in Tuesday's win over Bradley and 14 in a victory over NC State in Brooklyn on Thanksgiving Day.

"Coach trusts putting the ball in my hands and hoping I can make the best plays available," Lomax said. "Today, I just happened to hit a ton of big shots."

The Tigers shot 53.8 percent in the second off to offset a difficult opening 20 minutes and finished shooting 37.9 percent. The Blazers (4-4) shot only 29.6 percent in the second half after making 12-of-24 before intermission.

In the first half, the Tigers struggled shooting from the outset. The Tigers missed 16 of their first 20 field goals and trailed 22-11. UAB built a 20-point advantage (31-11) a few minutes later after Makhtar Gueye drained a 3-pointer.

Two 3-pointers by Tyler Harris in the final four minutes of the half allowed the Tigers to trim the deficit to 12 points (38-26), but UAB took a 40-26 lead into the half.

The Tigers shot 25 percent in the first half (8-of-32) and were outrebounded, 23-15. UAB shot 50 percent (12-of-24).

Achiuwa, who entered the game averaging 13.9 points, was 0-for-6 shooting in the first half and scored only one point.

The Tigers, who have won six straight, will play next Saturday at nationally ranked Tennessee.

NOTES

Precious Achiuwa's double-double was his fourth of the season. He also accomplished the feat against Little Rock, Ole Miss and NC State.
Achiuwa also kept a double-digit rebounding streak in tact. He has five straight.
Memphis and UAB met for the fourth-straight season Saturday. The Tigers have won three of those games. Overall, the two schools met for the 50^th time.
The Blazers limited the Tigers to a season-low point total. Memphis entered the game averaging 84.3 points, 10^th best in the country.