Tigers snap two-game skid, beat UCF

Wednesday, January 29

Orlando, Fla.

6 PM

University of Memphis

15-5,4-3AAC

UCF

11-9,2-6AAC

Memphis

UCF

Achiuwa posted his 11th double-double of the season

Photo by: UCF Athletics

Jan 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (UM 59, UCF 57)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)Memphis Season Statistics (AAC Only)

Thomas leads UofM with a career-high 20-point effort

By: Phil Stukenborg

ORLANDO – Lance Thomas scored a career-high 20 points – including several huge 3-pointers late in the second half – to lift the University of Memphis past UCF, 59-57, Wednesday night in an American Athletic Conference game at Addition Financial Arena.

Thomas dropped in two 3-pointers in the closing 2:34, each allowing the Tigers (15-5, 4-3 AAC) to maintain five-point leads. Thomas was making his first start since November.

Precious Achiuwa contributed his staple – a double-double – by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds. Boogie Ellis added 13 points to help the Tigers snap a two-game losing streak.

"For a young team that has kind of struggled the last couple of games, to get this win makes me feel really good and really proud of the guys," Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said.

UCF (11-9, 2-6) placed three in double figures, led by Collin Smith and Ceasar DeJesus, who scored 13 apiece.

After Thomas' 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 57-52 lead with 1:10 left, the UofM withstood a frantic comeback try by UCF. DeJesus scored the final points for the Knights with a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds to go. The Tigers inbounded the ball to Ellis, who ran out the clock.

Thomas connected on four of his six 3-point attempts. Thomas had made only two 3-pointers this season entering the game. Overall, he was 8-of-11 from the field.

"I knew eventually it was going to happen," Thomas said "It felt really, really good. I was like 1-for-16 (for the season from 3-point range) before the game, but I'm a shooter. And shooters shoot."

Trailing by four at the half, the Tigers chipped away at the deficit and eventually took the lead. A jumper by Thomas gave the UofM a 33-32 advantage with 15:33 to go. The Tigers and Knights traded the lead for the next six minutes.

A 7-0 run late in the half gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game at 49-43. Lester Quinones and Malcolm Dandridge each scored during the run and Damion Baugh had a strong drive that he finished at the rim with his left hand for the six-point lead with 6:06 left.

Ellis added one of the biggest plays in the final five minutes. After missing a short bank shot, he ripped the ball from UCF's Brandon Mahan -- who had rebounded the shot -- and put it back in for a 51-47 lead with 4:20 to go.

In the first half, neither team shot particularly well. The Tigers shot 32.3 percent and committed eight turnovers, a combination that led to a 28-24 halftime deficit.

UCF shot 36 percent in the opening 20 minutes and got to the free throw line 11 times, making eight. The Tigers were 1-of-2 from the line.

Achiuwa struggled in the first half making two of nine shot attempts, but grabbing eight rebounds. Ellis, making his first start since Feb. 9 at Wichita State, had 10 first-half points.

Memphis returns home Saturday to play UConn at FedExForum in a game that tips off at noon. It will mark UConn's last trip to Memphis as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Huskies depart the AAC after this season to move to the Big East for basketball.

NOTES

Former Tigers football All-American Joe Allison attended the game. He is an Orlando resident. Allison played for the Tigers in the early 1990s and won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker.
Tigers coach Penny Hardaway honored the late Kobe Bryant by writing KB 8/24 the side of his shoes.
Lance Thomas made his first start since Nov 20 against Little Rock at FedExForum.
Thomas entered the game 3-for-23 in his career from 3-point range (2-for-7 at Louisville in 2017-18 and 1-for-16 this season). He made 4-of-6 against UCF.
Freshman forward D.J. Jeffries was held scoreless for the first time this season.
The Tigers outrebounded UCF, 40-30.