Tigers return to FedExForum Thursday night against Wichita State

Thursday, January 21

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

Wichita State

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers return to FedExForum Thursday night against Wichita State

Jan 20, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Game Notes (PDF)Wichita State Game Notes (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers welcome Wichita State to FedExForum for an American Athletic Conference clash Thursday at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN2.

The Tigers returned to the court on Sunday at Tulsa for the first time since Dec. 29 after three-straight games were postponed due to COVID-19-related issues involving Memphis' scheduled opponent. Memphis led 49-45 with 7:36 to go on Sunday, before the Golden Hurricane went on a 9-0 run to take a 54-49 lead with 4:04 to go en route to a 58-57 win.

Malcolm Dandridge recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds at Tulsa, and he was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts.

The Shockers are currently second in The American with a 4-1 mark, trailing only first-place Houston (6-1). Wichita State has won seven of its last eight games, with the only loss coming by seven to the nationally-ranked Cougars in Houston.

The Shockers boast the second-best scoring offense in the conference at 74.2 points per game, which will challenge the Tigers' fifth-ranked scoring defense (63.5 ppg). Wichita State's Tyson Etienne is second in the conference in scoring (17.9 ppg), and he connects on an average of 3.0 3-pointers per game (T-2nd).

Both teams rebound the ball well, as they are tied for second in the AAC with an average of 40.9 boards per contest.

A limited number of tickets are available for Thursday's game with the same social distancing safety guidelines in place as earlier this season. Tickets may be purchased online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by calling (901) 678-2331. Fans with existing season tickets or ticket packages can use their current tickets for upcoming games. More information can be found at www.GoTigersGo.com.

Thursday's game is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.

Game Details
Memphis (6-5, 2-2 AAC) vs. Wichita State (8-3, 4-1 AAC)
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 | 6 p.m. CT
FedExForum; Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, pxp; Dan Dakich, analysis)
Radio: 102.7 FM/600 AM (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
Internet: WatchESPN.com

By The Numbers
- 2008: The last time the Tigers held four-straight conference foes to fewer than 60 points (Jan. 9, ECU, 58; Jan. 12, at Marshall, 45; Jan. 16, at Rice, 50; Jan. 19, Southern Miss, 47; Jan. 23, at Tulsa, 41).
- 84.6: Free throw percentage this season for Landers Nolley II (22-26), which ranks third in the AAC.
- 9: Times in 11 games this season Memphis has led at halftime; the Tigers have lost four of those (vs. WKU, vs. Auburn, vs. Tulsa, at Tulsa).
- 6: Different Tigers who have earned weekly honors from the AAC this season after Malcolm Dandridge picked up Honor Roll recognition on Monday (Ellis, Nolley II, Cisse, Jeffries, Quinones).

The Last Time Out
- The Tulsa Golden Hurricane scored nine-straight points midway through the latter part of the second half, which was the difference in a 58-57 win Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, Okla.
- It was Memphis' first game since Dec. 29 after three-straight postponements due to COVID-19-related issues involving the Tigers' scheduled opponent.
- Memphis (6-5, 2-2 AAC) led by nine in the first half and for almost 30 minutes of the game.
- Tulsa (8-4, 5-2 AAC) turned the tide as the second half went along, capped by the 9-0 run.
- Landers Nolley II led Memphis with 13 points, all in the first half.
- Malcolm Dandridge had a career high 10 rebounds to go along with a season-high-tying 10 points.
- The Tigers led 32-26 at the break, thanks in part to an 8-0 run that created some breathing room.
- Memphis led 49-45 with 7:36 to go, before the Golden Hurricane went on their 9-0 run to take a 54-49 lead with 4:04 to go in the game.
- After Dandridge slammed home two dunks to make the score 44-38, the Tigers went 9:21 without a field goal until Quinones hit a 3-pointer to bring the Tigers within two at 54-52.
- Memphis finished the contest shooting 47.8 percent from the floor (22-46).
- The Tigers held a 35-23 advantage on the boards.

Noting the Shockers
- Wichita State is under the direction of interim head coach Isaac Brown, who took the reins after Gregg Marshall's resignation on Nov. 17.
- Brown had been an assistant on the Shockers bench since 2014-15.
- The Shockers were picked to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference's preseason poll.
- Wichita State returns three players with 17 or more starts from a team that went 23-8 last season.
- Tyson Etienne (9.4 ppg) and Dexter Dennis (9.2 ppg) combined for 18.6 points per contest out of the backcourt for the Shockers a season ago.
- On the historic side, Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway's first conference win as head coach came over Wichita State on Jan. 3, 2019 (85-74).

Last Game Against Wichita State
- Tyler Harris scored a season-high 19 points – including five 3-pointers – and Precious Achiuwa posted his 17th double-double of the season (14 points, 16 rebounds) to lead Memphis to a 68-60 win at FedExForum on March 5, 2020.
- Behind those contributions – and a season-low seven turnovers – the Tigers (21-9, 10-7 AAC) logged their fourth win in the past five games.
- Memphis held Wichita State to 34.4 percent shooting, the fifth opponent in the past six games to shoot less than 40 percent.
- The Tigers had only one turnover in the second half against the Shockers (22-8, 10-7 AAC).
- Ahead by five at halftime, the Tigers quickly took charge in the second half.
- Midway through the half the Tigers built a 12-point lead, 44-32, following an 8-0 run capped by two Harris free throws.
- Later in the half, Achiuwa caught a no-look pass from Harris in stride and finished with an explosive dunk for a 17-point advantage, 62-45, which was Memphis' largest lead of the game.
- Lester Quinones added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers.
- Lance Thomas scored nine points (all on 3-pointers), and Alex Lomax finished with eight points and four assists.

Looking Ahead
After Thursday's game, the Tigers hit the road for a 3 p.m. CT contest Sunday at East Carolina on ESPN2. The game against East Carolina begins a tough stretch of games for the Tigers, who will play five games in 11 days through Feb. 3. After the East Carolina game, Memphis plays five of its next six games at home starting next Tuesday, Jan. 26, against SMU at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.