Tigers short Monday night against Tulsa

Monday, December 21

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-4,1-1AAC

Tulsa

3-3,1-1AAC

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Dec 21, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A late 18-2 run by the Tulsa Golden Hurricane helped secure a 56-49 win over the Memphis Tigers Monday night at FedExForum.

Memphis (5-4, 1-1 AAC) was led by DeAndre Williams' 13 points and nine rebounds in his first start of the season. He also had three assists, three steals, and a blocked shot. Boogie Ellis and Jayden Hardaway combined for 10 points off the bench.

The Tigers missed their first seven shots of the game, but Tulsa's (3-3, 1-1 AAC) 2-for-6 shooting during that period meant Memphis trailed just 4-2 in those early goings. After the slow start, Memphis went on an 8-0 run over 4:52 to take a 12-6 lead, while the Golden Hurricane missed six-straight shots.

Williams hit a layup, Jayden Hardaway and Moussa Cisse threw down dunks, and D.J. Williams hit a jumper for the Tigers during the burst.

The run extended to 12-3 on a Boogie Ellis 3-pointer and a Williams free throw.

The game of runs continued, with Tulsa putting in eight of the game's next 12 points, and the Tigers' lead stood at 20-19 with 2:21 left in the half. A triple by Lester Quinones and jumpers by Hardaway and Williams sent Memphis into the halftime locker room on a 7-0 run and with a 27-19 lead.

Memphis limited Tulsa to 28.0 percent shooting in the first half (7-25) and 2-of-11 from 3-point distance (.182). The Tigers had a 26-15 advantage on the glass

The Tigers held a 44-38 lead with 4:32 left in the game, but the Golden Hurricane went on an 18-2 run after that to turn the tide of the game and pick up the win.

Nolley II had all eight of his points in the second 20 minutes, and Cisse grabbed five of his six rebounds in the game in the second half.

Memphis' defense held Tulsa to 34.7 percent shooting (17-49) in the game, and the Tigers had a 46-33 lead on the boards.

Up Next
Memphis remains at home to host USF next Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 8 p.m. on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. Consistent with pending recommendations from local public health officials, Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis men's basketball home games at FedExForum will be played without fans in attendance until further notice. For more information, please visit www.GoTigersGo.com.

Postgame Notes

Memphis used the starting lineup of Lester Quinones, Landers Nolley II, D.J. Jeffries, DeAndre Williams, and Moussa Cisse for the first time this season.
- It is the fifth different starting lineup for the Tigers in nine games this year.
Memphis limited Tulsa to the lowest shooting percentage by an opponent in the last five games (Arkansas State, 32.7 percent, 12/2/20).
The Tigers have now outrebounded four-straight opponents by double digits.
Memphis has held 16-straight opponents to 75 or fewer points, dating back to a 92-86 overtime loss at Cincinnati on Feb. 13, 2020.
Memphis is now 5-1 this season when leading the game with 5:00 to play.
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Tigers at FedExForum.
The Tigers were trying to begin conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2012-13.
In a game that swung back-and-forth, Memphis had an 8-0 scoring run, Tulsa had a 9-0 scoring run of their own at one point, the Tigers led by as many as nine points at one point, and the Golden Hurricane led by as many as 10 in the game.
Memphis is now 29-20 all-time against the Golden Hurricane.