Tigers beat Temple for third-straight win

Wednesday, February 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

17-5,6-3AAC

Temple

11-11,3-7AAC

Temple

Memphis

Lester Quinones (11) tied his career-high with 21 points in a 79-65 win over Temple.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 05, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook (UM 79, TEM 65)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)

Quinones ties career-high with 21 points, Ellis adds 18

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Lester Quinones tied his career-high with 21 points, Boogie Ellis scored 18 and Precious Achiuwa added his 12^th double-double of the season -- a 13-point, 10-rebound effort -- to lead the University of Memphis to a 79-65 American Athletic Conference victory over Temple Wednesday night.

Before 15,685 at FedExForum, the Tigers (17-5 overall, 6-3 American) used balanced scoring, 11 3-pointers and another strong defensive performance to win their third straight game.

Five players had nine or more points, including reserve big man Malcolm Dandridge, who scored a career-high nine points in 16 minutes and grabbed six rebounds. Quinones led the Tigers with four 3-pointers, while Ellis dropped in two. The Tigers held Temple to 35 percent shooting.

"It was a good win for us against another veteran team in our league," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "We keep finding a way to get it done. "

Temple (11-11, 3-7 American) started two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore against the Tigers, who sent out four freshmen – Ellis, Achiuwa, Quinones and Damion Baugh – along with sophomore Lance Thomas, who made three of his five 3-point attempts.

The Tigers led by as many as 18 points late in the second half. They never trailed in the final 20 minutes, although the Owls trimmed the Memphis lead to five points on several occasions early in the half.

Ahead by eight at the half, the Tigers were up by 11 (46-35) with 13 minutes left following a 5-0 run by Malcolm Dandridge. A 10-0 run a few minutes later, which included 3-pointers from Thomas and Quinones – made it 58-43 eight minutes left.

The Tigers eventually extended their lead to 18 points at 65-47 with 6:26 to go. The 14-point margin of victory was the largest in conference play for the UofM this season.

"Today was good for us because we finally put a team away," Hardaway said.

Quinones is averaging 17 points in the team's past two games, which have been played without D.J. Jeffries, the team's second-leading scorer. Jeffries is out for a month with a left knee injury he suffered late last month in practice.

In his absence, Quinones has been a contributor.

"Coach is emphasizing me to be more aggressive with D.J. out," Quinones said. "Tonight my teammates found me when I was open."

At the half, the Tigers held a 33-25 advantage thanks to another strong defensive effort. The UofM limited the Owls to 27.3 percent shooting.

Quinones had 12 points at the half to lead the Tigers. His total included three 3-pointers.

After falling behind 6-0 to start the game, the UofM recovered and took its first lead (7-6) on a free throw by Quinones. A 3-pointer by Tyler Harris with 12:11 to go in the half gave the Tigers a 14-11 lead, but the Owls fought back and led 19-18 with eight minutes left.

Then Quinones ignited an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 26-19 advantage. The lead reached 10 points (31-21 and 33-23) on two occasions, the first following two Achiuwa free throws and the second on a Harris layup.

Achiuwa struggled in the first half (0-for-5 shooting), but scored six points on 6-of-8 shooting from the line.

The Tigers close their three-game homestand Saturday with a 3 p.m. conference game against USF.

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

Temple was held to 34.9 percent shooting, the third-straight Memphis opponent to shoot less than 40 percent. The Tigers have held 15 of their 22 opponents to less than 40 percent shooting.
Lester Quinones tied his career-high with 21 points. He scored 21 in a mid-November home game against Alcorn State.
Malcolm Dandridge scored his career-high (nine points) in 16 minutes. He also added six rebounds, one shy of his career-high.
Lance Thomas went 3-for-5 from 3-point range to add to a torrid three-game stretch. He has made 9-of-15 (60 percent) from beyond the arc since moving into the starting lineup at USF Jan. 29.
Freshman guard Damion Baugh made his first start since Jan. 9 at Wichita State. Baugh started the first 15 games of the season.