Tigers beat ECU, snap 3-game skid

Wednesday, February 19

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

18-8,7-6AAC

ECU (Coaching for Literacy Game)

10-17,4-10AAC

East Carolina

Memphis

Boogie Ellis (5) finished with 17 points and made several key 3-pointers.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 19, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (UM 77, ECU 73)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)Memphis Season Statistics (AAC Only)

UofM withstands second-half Pirates' rally to win, 77-73

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Precious Achiuwa posted his 15^th double-double and Boogie Ellis continued his strong second-half-of-the-season play to lead the University of Memphis to a 77-73 American Athletic Conference victory over East Carolina Wednesday night.

Achiuwa, the rebounding leader among freshmen in Division 1, made nine-of-13 field goals and six-of-10 free throws for a game-high 24 points, one shy of his career-high. He added 12 rebounds.

Ellis scored 17 points on five-of-nine shooting, including four 3-pointers. He was three-of-four from the free throw line. Ellis is averaging 13.5 points in his past eight games after going through six-game stretch in which scored only 13 points (a 2.2 average).

The two freshmen helped the Tigers (18-8, 7-6 AAC) snap a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season.

"Definitely very happy to get a win," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "As long as we get a win, by any means necessary, it doesn't matter if it's by one (point) or by 30.

"I would have loved to have come out and had a 20- to 25-point win and made a statement after losing three in a row, but just getting a win is statement enough."

Unlike a late-game breakdown at Cincinnati last week, the Tigers were able to withstand an ECU comeback try. The Pirates (10-17, 4-10 AAC) trailed by double digits in the opening minutes of the second half, but battled back to tie the game three times (at 60-all, at 66-all and at 69-all) in the final 6:23. Key baskets from Ellis and Achiuwa on consecutive possessions built a cushion the UofM used to hold on to a much-needed win.

In the closing 40 seconds, the Tigers made four free throws (in eight attempts) to secure the victory.

"We made winning plays at the end like other teams have been doing against us," Hardaway said.

Guard Damion Baugh helped the Tigers battle evenly on the boards. He had seven rebounds, a career-high. The Tigers finished with 37 rebounds and ECU had 38.

Ahead by six at halftime, the Tigers initially appeared as if they would put the game away, but the Pirates would not allow it.

Memphis jumped to a 16-point (49-33) lead four minutes into the second half, but couldn't maintain the advantage. ECU got 23 points and 13 rebounds from Tristen Newton, both career-highs. Jayden Gardner, the league's scoring leader at 20 points per game, finished with 16 and Bitumba Baruti scored 14, his career high.

At the half, the Tigers led 33-27, but they held a 16-point lead (24-8) midway through the period.

The Tigers shot 44.4 percent and outrebounded the Pirates, 21-16, in the opening 20 minutes to build a lead. The UofM trailed only in the opening seconds after Newton started the game by connecting on a short jumper off the tip.

Newton had 14 points at the half, nearly five points more than his 9.7 points per game average.

Memphis used an early 10-0 run to take command (20-8) with 10 minutes left in the first half. The Pirates trimmed the deficit to four points (31-27) following a Gardner jumper from the right baseline with 1:40 to go in the half.

The Tigers stay at home to play host to conference co-leader Houston at 1 p.m. Saturday at FedExForum.

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

The Tigers committed only one foul in the opening 13:51 of the game.
Damion Baugh scored eight points for the Tigers, his highest output since Dec. 30 against Tulane when he scored 15.
Boogie Ellis posted his sixth double-figure scoring game in the past eight games. Ellis had only four double-figure games in his first 18.
ECU fell to 1-9 on the road. Memphis improved to 13-3 at home.
The Tigers are 21-4 against ECU all-time and 12-1 in games played in Memphis.