Tigers meet SMU at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Dallas

Tuesday, February 25

Dallas, Texas

8 PM

University of Memphis

SMU (Powerful Minds Game)

Tickets

Malcolm Dandridge, 2020 Memphis men's basketball

Malcolm Dandridge (23) is coming off a career-best 12-point performance against No. 22 Houston.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 24, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. SMU)SMU Notes (vs. Memphis)

UofM begins two-game American Athletic Conference road trip

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With four games remaining in the regular season and a No. 4 seed at stake in next month's American Athletic Conference Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, every possession counts for the University of Memphis.

The U of M will have that in mind as it travels to SMU Tuesday night for an AAC game at Moody Coliseum. The Tigers (19-8, 8-6 American) have won two straight – including an upset of No. 22 Houston Saturday – following a three-game skid.

SMU (18-8, 8-6) has lost two straight, but the Mustangs present a key obstacle in the UofM's pursuit of a No. 4 seed. Each of the tournament's top four seeds receive a first-round bye and the Mustangs already own a road victory over the UofM.

The Tigers will be attempting to erase the memory of the first meeting against SMU Jan. 25 at FedExForum. With six minutes remaining in that game, the Tigers led the Mustangs, 70-59, but surrendered the final 15 points to drop a 74-70 decision.

Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said he hopes the team can benefit from its current two-game winning streak, one in which they've shown the ability to be effective in clutch situations.

"I'm proud the guys have seen the other side of it," Hardaway said. "We'd been losing some heartbreakers at the end. A lot of it has been self-inflicted . . . (but) the guys are learning from it."

What impressed Hardaway, among other things, in the win over Houston was a season-low eight turnovers, the only time this season the Tigers have posted fewer than 10. It also marked the second-straight game with more assists than turnovers.

The UofM also played with passion and energy from start to finish, Hardaway said. An aggressive approach led to 22 free-throw opportunities in the second half against Houston. The Tigers made 16 of those, including seven-of-eight in the final 4:32.

"We need to carry (the momentum from the Houston win) over," Hardaway said. "And it shouldn't be (difficult to motivate) them because we had a 12-point lead with seven minutes to go against SMU. Then they went a 15-0 run in our building. That should be enough motivation to know what we have to do."

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

With a victory, the Tigers will post their 18^th 20-win season in the 2000s.
The Tigers are the only AAC team playing three road games during the final two weeks of the regular season.
The American Athletic Conference is hosting POW6RFUL MINDS week with men's basketball games highlight the campaign to improve awareness of mental health issues and resources available to students.
The UofM has averaged only 12.2 turnovers in its past five games. The Tigers committed an average of 19 in the previous 12 games.
Five Tigers – Precious Achiuwa, Tyler Harris, Alex Lomax, Boogie Ellis and Damion Baugh -- have played in each of the team's 27 games. Achiuwa has started all 27.