Tigers, USF set for 3 p.m. rematch Saturday

Saturday, February 8

Memphis, Tenn.

3 PM

University of Memphis

USF

Tickets

Memphis Men’s Basketball vs. University of Connecticut

Lance Thomas is averaging 14.3 points in his past three games and has made 9 of 15 3-pointers.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 07, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. USF)USF Notes (vs. Memphis)

UofM will end its three-game homestand against the Bulls

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis will close its three-game homestand at 3 p.m. Saturday trying to extend its three-game win streak.

The Tigers will play host to USF in an American Athletic Conference game at FedExForum, ending a homestand that began with victories over UConn and Temple.

Memphis (17-5, 6-3 American) began its winning streak Jan. 29 at UCF, getting a boost from new starters Lance Thomas, a sophomore in his first season with the Tigers after playing his freshman season at Louisville, and freshman Boogie Ellis.

Thomas started at UCF and scored a career-high 20 points. His point total included four 3-pointers (in six attempts). He knocked down several key 3-pointers late in the UCF game to keep Memphis comfortably ahead.

In his next start against UConn, he finished with 13 points and five blocks, tying freshman standout Precious Achiuwa for the most in a single game by a Tiger this season.

And in Wednesday's 79-65 victory over Temple, Thomas made three of his five 3-pointers and added four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

In his last three games as a starter, Thomas has made nine of his 15 3-pointers (60 percent) and averaged 14.3 points. Thomas started two early season games, but came in off the bench for 12 straight games before being re-inserted.

As for Ellis, he started the team's first 15 games before returning to the bench for four games. Upon returning to the starting five, Ellis has been productive.

He scored 13 points at UCF, had five rebounds and three assists against UConn and added 18 points and three assists Wednesday against Temple. He has made of his eight of his last 15 3-pointers.

While appreciative of what Thomas and Ellis have provided recently, Tigers coach Penny Hardaway was extremely proud of the balance against Temple and the team's overall rebounding. All eight who played had at least two rebounds. Two reserves – Alex Lomax and Malcolm Dandridge – grabbed six rebounds each.

"We really focused on it going into the Tennessee game because we felt as if they were a great offensive rebounding team," Hardaway said. "(Our) guards were locked in from that point until about four or five games and then they started to get lax again.

"I've been preaching for the last month the guards have to go rebound because their men have to get back and protect backcourt. So it's usually two-on-two when it should be five-on-two or four-on-two with our guards going back. That's one thing I told the guards before the game because we didn't rebound as well in the first half against UConn and they were in the game."

USF is 10-12 overall and has won two straight, defeating Tulane and UCF to improve to 3-6 in conference games. The Tigers beat USF, 68-64, three weeks ago in Tampa.

David Collins, a 6-foot-4 guard, averages 13.7 points to lead the Bulls and Laquincy Rideau, the AAC's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, averages 12 points. Rideeau leads the league in steals (56 or 2.5 per game). USF is playing this season without Alexis Yetna, who was the 2018-19 Freshman of the Year in the AAC. Yetna suffered a knee injury shortly before the season began.

TIGERS NOTES

The 11 3-pointers made by the Tigers Wednesday against Temple were the third-most in a game this season, topped only by 14 against UIC and 12 against New Orleans.
Since going 2-for-21 from 3-point range in a loss at Tulsa, the Tigers have made 33 of 75 (44 percent) beyond the arc in the past four games.
Precious Achiuwa has led the Tigers in rebounding for 18 consecutive games, dating to a 12-rebound performance Nov. 20 against Little Rock.
The 79 points scored by the Tigers Wednesday against Temple were the most since scoring 84 Dec. 30 against Tulane.
In its past two games, the UofM has shot 78 and 79 percent from the free-throw line. For the season, the Tigers shoot 68 percent.
Lance Thomas has scored 43 points in the last three games (a 14.3 average). In 17 prior games, he scored 41 points (a 2.4 average).