Tigers fall to Bearcats in OT

Thursday, February 13

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 PM

University of Memphis

17-7,6-5AAC

Cincinnati

16-8,9-3AAC

OT 1

Memphis

Cincinnati

Lester Quinones finished with 18 points and four assists.

Photo by: Rooted Media House

Feb 13, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (UC 92, UM 86/ot)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)Memphis Season Statistics (AAC Only)

Achiuwa leads Tigers with 22 points and career-high 17 rebounds

By: Phil Stukenborg

CINCINNATI – The University of Memphis did its best Thursday night to do what no other American Athletic Conference team has done this season: beat the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena.

The Tigers gave it their best shots, and forced overtime, but couldn't hold on as Cincinnati claimed a 92-86 victory before a sold-out crowd of 12,000.

The Bearcats had won each of their five home games and it appeared as if a sixth wasn't going to materialize, but UC was able to overcome a 10-point deficit with 6:11 to go.

The Tigers got 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds from Precious Achiuwa, while Boogie Ellis scored 19 and Lester Quinones had 18. Tyler Harris finished with 11 points.

It was a difficult loss for the Tigers (17-7, 6-5 American), who shot 59 percent in the second half and 48 percent for the game.

"We've got to bring this effort out every game and we'll be OK," Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said. "I'm proud of my team's effort."

Hardaway said the loss could be traced to several key shortcomings in the second half.

"Rebounds and free throws," he said. "You box out and make your free throws and you go home with a win."

Cincinnati (16-8, 9-3 American) got 25 points and 19 rebounds from Tre Scott, while Jarron Cumberland added 15, all in the second half. Jarron's cousin, Jaevin, had 10 points, including several key 3-pointers.

Ahead by two at halftime, Memphis built an eight-point lead (58-50) midway through the second half behind Achiuwa, who had only two points at the half. Achiuwa had 11 points during a 17-6 run. A few possessions later it was 60-51.

And following a four-point play by Quinones (a 3-pointer in the corner and a converted free throw), the Tigers led 64-54 with 6:11 to go.

Then Cumberland – Jaevin, not Jarron – stepped up. He knocked down a free throw and a 3-pointer and suddenly it was 64-58 with 5:32 to go.

Although the Tigers took a 68-61 lead moments later when Achiuwa followed his own miss, the Bearcats kept fighting back.

They forced overtime with a late 12-5 run, including two free throws by Scott to tie the game at 73 and send it to overtime.

In the overtime, the Bearcats used an 8-1 run to build an insurmountable lead at 81-74.

"We played our hearts out," Quinones said.

At the half the Tigers led, 29-27, taking advantage of early foul trouble by Cumberland, the reigning conference player of the year.

UC led 13-9 and 15-11 in the opening 10 minutes, but Cumberland departed after picking up his second foul with 17:22 to go in half. The Tigers gradually battled back and built a six-point advantage (22-16) following an 11-1 run.

The Bearcats re-inserted Cumberland late in the second half and were able to briefly regain the lead (27-26) in the closing seconds before Harris ended the half by nailing a 3-pointer for a 29-27 lead at the break.

Memphis shot 39 percent in the first half and got 10 points from Ellis and 11 from Quinones. Cincinnati shot 34 percent and were aided by committing only five turnovers.

Cumberland did not score in the opening half and Achiuwa had only two.

Memphis remains on the road for its next conference game. The Tigers play at UConn at 2 p.m. (CT) at the XL Center.

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