Tigers Drop Decision In Ranked Conference Match-Up Thursday

Thursday, January 9

Wichita, Kan.

6 PM

University of Memphis

12-3,1-1AAC

Wichita State

14-1,2-0AAC

Memphis

Wichita St.

Photo by: Kelly Ross

Tigers Drop Decision In Ranked Conference Match-Up Thursday

Jan 09, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (WSU 76, UM 67)Memphis Season Statistics

Achiuwa posts double-double, Lomax grabs career-high rebounds in setback at Wichita State.

By: By Phil Stukenborg

WICHITA, Kan. – The 21^st-ranked University of Memphis men's basketball team limited No. 23 Wichita State to 33 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Shockers, 48-44, but those advantages weren't enough.

The Shockers won their eighth straight game with a 76-67 American Athletic Conference victory over the Tigers before 10,506 at sold-out Koch Arena.

Precious Achiuwa led the Tigers with 22 points and 12 rebounds and Tyler Harris added 17 off the bench. Achiuwa and Harris were the only Tigers who scored in double figures.

Memphis dropped to 12-3 and suffered its second straight loss after a 10-game winning streak. Wichita State improved to 14-1. The Tigers are 1-1 in AAC play, while the Shockers are 2-0.

Following the game, Tigers coach Penny Hardaway was focused on a number that created problems. The UofM finished with only 10 assists and committed 18 turnovers.

"These guys just have to share the basketball more," Hardaway said.

Memphis got off to a slow start and never led in the game. The Shockers built early 12-2 and 17-4 leads.

"We can't keep getting off to slow starts," Hardaway said.

Jamarius Burton led the Shockers with 16 points.

The Shockers, ahead by six at the half, extended their lead to 12 before the first media timeout. Wichita State's Burton had five points during a 9-3 run for a 46-34 lead.

Wichita State pushed its advantage to 19 points a few minutes later after putting together an 8-0 run, which ended on an Erik Stevenson 3-pointer for a 56-37 lead. The Tigers battled back behind Harris and Lester Quinones to cut the deficit to 13 (58-45) following a Harris floater in the lane with 10 minutes remaining.

Memphis kept charging and trimmed Wichita State's lead to 66-59 with 3:49 to go on a basket inside by Achiuwa. A free throw by Quinones with 3:17 made it a six-point game, but that as close as the Tigers would get.

In the first half, the Shockers jumped out to 13-point lead (17-4) as the Tigers struggled to find their shooting touch. Memphis missed six of its first seven field goal attempts during the stretch.

The Tigers slowly chipped away at the deficit. Memphis put together a 13-7 run late in the half powered by Harris (six points). When Achiuwa dropped in two free throws with 2:48 to go, the Tigers trailed by only three (32-29).

Wichita State went into the half with a 37-31 lead, getting a 3-pointer from Dexter Dennis in the final minute.

Memphis shot only 30 percent in the first half (including 1-of-13 from beyond the arc), but made 12 of its 15 free throw tries. Wichita State shot slightly better (38.2 percent), but helped itself by making six of 14 3-pointers.

Memphis stays on the road for its next conference game. The Tigers play at 3 p.m. Sunday at USF.

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

With a win, the Tigers would have reached 13-2 through 15 games. It would have tied for the second-best start in the century with the 2005-06 team.
Guard Alex Lomax set a career high with nine rebounds.
Precious Achiuwa recorded his fourth straight double-double and eighth of the season. He finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
D.J. Jeffries returned to the lineup after missing the Georgia game last weekend with a bout of the flu.