Tigers, USF set for Tuesday night clash at FedExForum

Tuesday, December 29

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

USF

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers, USF set for Tuesday night clash at FedExForum

Dec 28, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Game Notes (PDF)USF Game Notes (PDF)AAC Notes (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers conclude the month of December with a matchup with USF tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at FedExForum. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN2.

The Tigers (5-4, 1-1 AAC) are looking to avenge a 56-49 loss to Tulsa in their last outing on Dec. 21. The 56 points are the fewest Memphis has allowed in a defeat since a 50-45 loss to UCLA in the Elite Eight of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

DeAndre Williams made his first start of the season in the Tulsa game, marking the fifth different starting lineup for the Tigers in nine games. Five Tigers are currently averaging double-figure scoring this season, the most on any team in the American Athletic Conference.

USF enters the game with a 5-3 mark and a 1-1 record in league play, including a 74-71 win at Cincinnati and an 82-77 overtime loss against Wichita State. The Bulls return five of their top six scorers from last season's squad and welcome back 2018-19 AAC Freshman of the Year Alexis Yetna, who missed last season with an injury.

USF was picked to finish fifth in The American's preseason poll, and Yetna was voted onto the league's preseason all-conference second team.

Notable in this matchup, Memphis has the conference's third-best scoring offense this season, while USF has allowed the second-most points per game in the league so far this year.

Tomorrow's game is presented by Regional One Health.

Consistent with 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.

Game Details
Memphis (5-4, 1-1 AAC) vs. USF (5-3, 1-1 AAC)
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 | 6 p.m. CT
FedExForum; Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, pxp; Robbie Hummel, analysis)
Radio: 102.7 FM/600 AM (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)

The Last Time Out
- A late 18-2 run by the Tulsa Golden Hurricane helped secure a 56-49 win over the Memphis Tigers on Dec. 21 at FedExForum.
- Memphis 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 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.
- Landers Nolley II had all eight of his points in the second 20 minutes, and Moussa 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.
- 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.

Noting the Bulls
- In two career games against USF, Lester Quinones is averaging 11.5 points per game.
- Alex Lomax matched a career high with five steals at USF on Jan. 12, 2020, and he equaled his career high with two 3-pointers against the Bulls on Feb. 8, 2020.
- Memphis' Lance Thomas and USF's Jamir Chaplin both call Norcross, Ga., home, but they attended different high schools.
- Thomas played at Norcross High School, and Chaplin at Meadowcreek High School.
- Their paths crossed one season in 2016-17 with Thomas a senior and Chaplin a sophomore.
- In 2016-17, Thomas' Norcross squad won all three meetings over Meadowcreek on its way to a Georgia High School Association AAAAAAA state runner-up finish.
- Although Thomas had graduated, Chaplin's Meadowcreek squad got some measure of revenge the next season (2017-18) with a 56-43 win over Norcross in the state title game.
- Bulls associate head coach Tom Herrion served as the Marshall head coach from 2010-14 when the Thundering Herd and Memphis were members of Conference USA.
- The Tigers faced Herrion's Marshall squads seven times, and Memphis won six of those match-ups.
- Included in the Tigers' six wins over Herrion's Thundering Herd was an 83-57 victory in the 2012 Conference USA championship game at FedExForum.

Last Game Against USF
- USF upset the Tigers on Feb. 8, 2020 at FedExForum, 75-73.
- Memphis shot 58 percent in the second half, committed only 11 turnovers and got 39 points from its reserves in the game.
- The Tigers played without Malcolm Dandridge (knee) and D.J. Jeffries (knee), and starters Precious Achiuwa and Lance Thomas left the game in the late goings with injuries.
- USF got 21 points each from David Collins and Laquincy Rideau to pull off the victory and avenge a 68-64 loss to the Tigers in Tampa Jan. 12.
- The Tigers were led in scoring by reserve guard Tyler Harris, who finished with 17 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
- It was one of his five 3-pointers in the ballgame.
- Guards Boogie Ellis and Alex Lomax added 14 points apiece, and Lester Quinones scored 10.

Looking Ahead
Up next for Memphis is a contest at Temple Saturday at 11 a.m. CT and a Tuesday, Jan. 5 game at UCF at 8 p.m. CT. Both games will be televised on ESPNU. The Tigers are the only AAC school with just two home games in January. Those are Jan. 14 against SMU and Jan. 21 against Wichita State.