Tigers, Tulane meet for second time

Wednesday, February 20

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

Tulane

Tickets

Kareem Brewton (right) scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds Saturday at UCF.

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Feb 19, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. Tulane)Tulane Notes (vs. Memphis)

Second `Memphis State' game will be part of Wednesday's festivities.

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis returns home after splitting a two-game road trip – a win at ECU, a tough loss at UCF – to play Tulane, an American Athletic Conference team the Tigers beat earlier this season in New Orleans.

Despite the Green Wave's record (4-20 overall, 0-12 in The American), the Tigers understand they are not in position to overlook any opponent as they prepare for the 6 p.m. tipoff Wednesday at FedExForum. The UofM will wear `MEMPHIS STATE' uniforms.

While the Tigers (15-11, 7-6 The American) defeated Tulane, 83-79, at Devlin Arena in mid-January, they had to battle hard at the end to preserve the victory.

"We were up by 18 at halftime . . . and we didn't want to give them any breathing room (to start the second half)," Tiger coach Penny Hardaway said. "And, of course, we did.

"We had to battle all the way to end and found a way to pull it out. We want to find a way to finish the game and not just (play hard) for 20 minutes, but for 40 minutes."

Since that game, the Tigers have gone 4-4 and received stellar play from senior point guard Jeremiah Martin, who has earned a spot on the league's Weekly Honor Roll (honorable mention player of the week) for three straight weeks. Martin, a 6-foot-3 left-hander, averages 26 points in road games and 17.1 overall to lead the team in scoring.

Martin scored a career-high 41 Feb. 2 at USF and had 31 in the team's win at ECU.

He also understands the need for the Tigers to develop a "killer instinct" once it has built a huge lead. The UofM led Tulane by 18, before the Green Wave cut it to two points.

"I really feel we got off to a great start (at Tulane)," Martin said. "We just can't get comfortable with a 12- or 15-point lead. We've got to play like we're tied or behind."

With five conference games remaining before the March 14-17 league tournament at FedExForum, the Tigers are intent on finishing strong to secure one of The American tournament's top four seeds, each of which earns a first-round bye.

After Wednesday's game against Tulane, the Tigers play: at Wichita State (Saturday); Feb. 26 at home vs. Temple; at Cincinnati March 2 and at home March 9 against Tulsa.

"We're coming together and believing in the things we've been taught on the offensive and defensive end," Hardaway said. "We're cutting down on the bad shots, we're talking more on defense, we're in the right positions more. If we continue to do that, we have a good chance to win."

QUICK FACTS

The Tigers will wear their `MEMPHIS STATE' uniforms against Tulane. It will mark the second time this season the Tigers have worn the throwback uniforms.
Memphis guard Jeremiah Martin's 56 points last week (31 at ECU, 25 at UCF) gave him 1,369 for his career, or 12 shy of tying Robert Dozier (2005-09) for 16^th place on the school's all-time list.
Tulane has lost 14 straight. The Green Wave's last victory came Dec. 17 against Texas Southern.
The Tigers are 12-2 this season at FedExForum.
Memphis forward Kyvon Davenport had 10 points in the loss at UCF. He did not score in double figures against ECU. Davenport has not gone back-to-back games without scoring in double figures in his two-year career.