Tigers head to Omaha for second-round NIT game

Friday, March 22

Omaha, Neb.

7:30 PM

University of Memphis

Creighton

Tickets

Kareem Brewton Jr. (5) is one of five Tiger seniors playing in the postseason.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Mar 21, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Memphis NIT Notes (vs. Creighton)Creighton NIT Notes (vs. Memphis)

Men's basketball faces Creighton in Friday night matchup on ESPNU

By: Phil Stukenborg

OMAHA, Neb. – It's not the NCAA Tournament, but the University of Memphis is thoroughly enjoying its first postseason play since 2014 and hoping it eventually leads them to New York.

That's where the National Invitation Tournament plays its semifinals and final. For the Tigers to spend early April in the Big Apple playing at Madison Square Garden, they'll have to continue advancing in the NIT, which takes them to the CHI Health Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday night for a second-round matchup with Creighton.

"I'm very happy for these guys," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "They're on television, they're still being talked about and their season is still going."

Memphis (22-13) won its opening-round game, 74-60, Tuesday night at FedExForum against San Diego behind 21 points and seven rebounds from Jeremiah Martin and 16 points each from Kyvon Davenport and Tyler Harris.

The Tigers are the No. 3 seed in the TCU Region and a victory over Creighton (19-14) would move them into next week's quarterfinals, which will be played March 26 and 27. If the UofM advances, it will play its quarterfinal game on the road since the FedExForum is not available on those days.

Beating the Bluejays at their home will be a challenge. Creighton, the No. 2 seed in the region, beat Loyola Chicago Tuesday night behind an impressive balanced attack. Five Bluejays scored in double figures led by Martin Krampelj, who had 17 points and added eight rebounds. Guard Ty-Shon Alexander finished with seven assists.

Hardaway's first Memphis team is on a late-season roll. The Tigers have won seven of nine games with the losses coming to nationally ranked Houston in the American Athletic Conference Championship semifinals and to Cincinnati, the AAC tournament champion. Both are NCAA Tournament teams.

And the Tigers have continued to follow the lead of Martin, the first-team all-conference selection who has been averaging 26.5 points since the start of February. Davenport also has stepped up recently. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 41 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in three conference tournament games.

NOTABLE

The Tigers have been playing better defensively. Each of the last four opponents – Tulane, UCF, Houston and San Diego – have shot less than 40 percent. Tulane shot 39.1 percent, UCF shot 35.8, Houston 36.8 and San Diego 36.7.
Creighton made nine 3-pointers in its victory over Loyola Chicago and now has drained a season-record 357 this season.
Tigers guard Jeremiah Martin is 33 points shy of tying Larry FInch for most points in a season by a senior. Finch scored 721 points during the 1972-73 season. Martin enters the game against Creighton with 688, tied for second with Keith Lee (1984-85).
Martin also is closing in on another former Tigers' great. He has scored scored 1,605 career points to rank 10th all-time. With 24 points, he will tie Bill Cook (1973-76) for ninth.
Creighton has won seven straight postseason home games and 11 of 12.