No. 12/16 Tigers Romp North Carolina Central

Saturday, November 13

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-0,0-0AAC

North Carolina Central

0-2,0-0MEAC

N.C. Central

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Nov 13, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 12/16 Memphis Tigers turned a 15-point halftime lead into an advantage as big as 49 late in the second half en route to a 90-51 win over North Carolina Central Saturday night at FedExForum.

Memphis (2-0) was led by Emoni Bates' 15 points, and Jalen Duren added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Duren was held scoreless and had three rebounds in the first half. Josh Minott contributed nine points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, and Tyler Harris buried 11 points in just eight minutes as a reserve.

Landers Nolley II and Lester Quinones were also in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Earl Timberlake turned in a well-rounded stat line of six points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in 19 minutes of action.

After leading 38-23 at the break, Memphis scored the first 10 points of the second half and 15 of the first 17 to take a 53-25 lead. The Tigers limited North Carolina Central (0-2) to 26.2 percent shooting in the game (17-65) and 12.0 percent from 3-point range (3-25).

The Tigers went 31-of-47 from the free throw line, which was their third-most attempts from the charity stripe since 2010-11 and most in eight seasons.

North Carolina Central was paced by Eric Boone's 13 points.

UP NEXT
Memphis welcomes Saint Louis to FedExForum Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Western Kentucky Friday at 7 p.m., before venturing to the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn, N.Y., the week of Thanksgiving.

Tickets for 2021-22 are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of Alex Lomax, Emoni Bates, Jayden Hardaway, DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for the first time this season.
- It was Hardaway's first start in the last 14 games, since Jan. 28, 2021 at SMU.
Memphis has now won both meetings all-time with North Carolina Central.
The 47 free throws attempted by Memphis were its most in a game since getting to the line 50 times against Nicholls State on Nov. 23, 2013.
Memphis saw 51 of its 90 points come from the bench.
The Tigers had 12 steals and 13 blocked shots in the game.
- Memphis has been in double digits in both categories in both games this season.
Bates has led the Tigers in scoring in both games this season.
Tyler Harris made two 3-pointers in the game, giving him 141 for his Memphis career.
- He is now two away from tying Elliot Perry (1987-91) for 10th all time in a Tiger career.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.