Tigers' American road trip continues

Sunday, February 16

Hartford, Conn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

UConn

Tickets

Memphis Men’s Basketball vs. University of Connecticut

Lester Quinones scored 14 points in the first meeting against UConn at FedExForum.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. Connecticut)Connecticut Notes (vs. Memphis)

UofM plays Sunday at 2 p.m. against UConn at XL Center

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In one sense, it will be a historical occasion when the University of Memphis travels to Hartford, Conn., Sunday for an American Athletic Conference game against UConn.

It will mark the final time the Tigers play UConn in a regular-season conference game.

The Huskies depart for the Big East next season ending a six-year run in the AAC, where UConn was an original member. The series could be extended by a game if the Tigers and Huskies meet in next month's conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sunday at the XL Center, the Tigers, 17-7 overall and 6-5 in the American, will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak. The UofM has dropped back-to-back games to USF (at home) and Cincinnati (on the road).

In Thursday's 92-86 overtime loss to the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena, the Tigers nearly pulled off a season-sweep of Cincinnati, but were unable to finish. The UofM shot 59 percent in the second half and got 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds from Precious Achiuwa. Achiuwa played a season-high 42 minutes.

After Memphis got a free throw to start the overtime period, it allowed eight consecutive points and never recovered.

"We executed well enough offensively (against Cincinnati) and got what we wanted, we just had to defend," Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said, aware of the Bearcats making four of their five field goal attempts in overtime.

Achiuwa, a candidate for league player of the year, had one of his best games of the season against UC. He made 8 of 18 field goals and five of eight free throws for his 22 points, his seventh game with 20 or more points. Twenty of his points came in the second half.

"He did a phenomenal job," Hardaway said. "To get 22 and 17 in this building? In 42 minutes? I think that's excellent.

"Games like (Thursday against UC) make me proud. I see the sun shining on us moving forward. As long as we keep this energy up we'll be OK."

Against UConn Sunday, the Tigers will attempt to sweep the regular-season series. Memphis beat the Huskies (13-11, 4-7 American) by seven (70-63) Feb. 1 at FedExForum. Achiuwa led the Tigers with 16 points, while Lester Quinones and Lance Thomas added 14 points each.

UConn got 20 points from Christian Vital, who leads the league in free throw-shooting percentage and steals.

Defensively, the Tigers were effective against UConn. They held the Huskies to 27 percent shooting in the second half and 34 percent for the game.

After Sunday's game, the Tigers are back home for games against East Carolina (Wednesday) and Houston (Feb. 22).

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

The Huskies are 10-3 at home this season.
Precious Achiuwa leads the UofM with 15 double-digit rebounding games this season. The double-digits rebound games have come in the last 20 games.
Achiuwa has 13 double-doubles this season after Thursday's 22 points and 17 rebounds.
UConn's James Bouknight has had three straight 20-point games.
Tigers guard Boogie Ellis scored 19 points at Cincinnati for his fifth double-figure scoring game in the past six. He had only one in the previous 10.