Jeffries leads Tigers past Bearcats, 60-49

Thursday, January 16

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

14-3,3-1AAC

Cincinnati

10-7,3-2AAC

Cincinnati

Memphis

D.J. Jeffries (0) drops in one of his four 3-pointers in Thursday's 60-49 win over Cincinnati.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Jan 16, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (UM 60, UC 49)Memphis Season Statistics Memphis Season Statistics (AAC Only)

Freshman forward scores 18 in his best game since being slowed by the flu

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – He'd been missing in – and out of – action the past few weeks, but Thursday night against Cincinnati in an American Athletic Conference game at FedExForum, D.J. Jeffries returned to the productive player he was in November and December.

Jeffries, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward, scored a team-high 18 points – including four 3-pointers – to lead No. 22 Memphis to a 60-49 victory over Cincinnati. Jeffries had missed the Jan. 4 Georgia game with flu symptoms and not been himself in the UofM's next two games: at Wichita State and USF.

Thursday he was a huge factor in the Tigers' win. He made six of 13 shots, most coming when the UofM needed them most.

"That's what we wanted," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. "He made six of them. He was 4-for-10 from three. When he comes out aggressive that helps us. Eighteen points, plus-16 –- we need D.J. to be aggressive like that every game."

The Tigers (14-3, 3-1 AAC) beat the Bearcats (10-7, 3-2 AAC) for the first time since February 2016, snapping a six-game losing streak to UC.

Precious Achiuwa, another member of the UofM's top-ranked recruiting class of 2019, contributed his sixth straight double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) to set a conference record and Lester Quinones added 13 points. Quinones did not miss any of his three field goal attempts (all 3-pointers) and was 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

"Obviously a great win," Hardaway said. "The way the kids responded was phenomenal. And to get this win on national TV was definitely gratifying."

Jeffries had scored only six points in the previous two games: a loss at Wichita State and a win at USF.

"When I came back for Wichita State, I knew I wasn't at 100 percent," Jeffries said. "This week I came back (at practices) and felt 100 percent."

Jeffries' contributions were something first-year Cincinnati coach John Brannen didn't expect.

"He had a great game," Brannen said. "Hitting those 3s at the beginning shocked us a little, put us on our heels."

As they have most of the season, the Tigers held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. The Bearcats were 18-of-60 (30 percent). UC was held to a season-low point total, too.

Cincinnati had its moments. After the Tigers pushed ahead by 15 (35-20) early in the second half, the Bearcats clawed back. They went on an 18-2 run, using two 3-pointers from Jarron Cumberland – the reigning conference player of the year – to take the lead, 38-37.

But the Tigers took Cincinnati's powerful shot, recovering behind, of course, Jeffries. The second of his two 3-pointers during a 10-0 run made it 47-38 Tigers.

UC never got closer than three points in the closing nine minutes. Memphis ended the game on a 10-0 run.

"The team was up for it," Hardaway said. "We had to protect home court and hit first and keep punching. We knew if we didn't they would make a run like they did. We withstood the run. I'm proud of the team for not bailing out and not allowing their physicality to push us back. We kept moving forward."

In the first half, the Tigers limited the Bearcats to 26 percent shooting to grab a 31-20 lead at the break.

Memphis and Cincinnati battled back and forth until the Tigers put together a late 10-2 run to build their 11-point halftime lead. Jeffries had 10 points at the half. The UofM helped itself by assisting on 10 of its 11 made field goals.

The Tigers never trailed in the opening 20 minutes. They built an early 9-2 advantage on a pair of 3-pointers from Jeffries and another from Quinones. Memphis ended the half on the 10-2 run that started with 3-pointers from Isaiah Maurice and Jayden Hardaway. Maurice closed the run with a layup off a feed from Achiuwa.

Memphis doesn't play this weekend. The Tigers resume conference play Wednesday at Tulsa.

NOTES

In his previous two games, Tigers forward D.J. Jeffries scored only six total points: three against Wichita State and three against USF. He led the team with 18 points. His plus-minus rating was plus-16.
Tigers forward Precious Achiuwa posted his sixth consecutive double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds). The six straight double-doubles set an American Athletic Conference record. The league began operation in 2013-14.
Freshman center Malcolm Dandridge played a career-high 27 minutes and drew praise from Coach Penny Hardaway for his toughness and rebounding. He finished with seven rebounds, four steals, four assists and three blocks.