Memphis Makes Statement with 92-78 Win over No. 6/8 Alabama

Tuesday, December 14

Memphis, Tenn.

8 p.m.

University of Memphis

6-4,0-0AAC

#6/8 Alabama

8-2,0-0SEC

Alabama

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis Makes Statement with 92-78 Win over No. 6/8 Alabama

Dec 14, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers led by as many as 19 points and ran away with a 92-78 win over No. 6/8 Alabama in front of 15,266 raucous fans Tuesday night in a "White Out" at FedExForum.

Memphis (6-4) snapped a four-game losing streak in emphatic fashion and picked up its first win over a top-10 team since 2014 and first over a ranked squad in two seasons.

Five Tigers were in double figures, led by DeAndre Williams' 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Jalen Duren added 14 on 7-of-9 shooting, Landers Nolley II made three 3-pointers en route to 13 points and Lester Quinones added 12.

Tyler Harris made three triples and finished with 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench.

Nolley II and Williams also combined for 12 assists, seven steals and only two turnovers.

Memphis' well-rounded game as a whole included shooting 53.3 percent from the field (32-60), making 80.0 percent of its free throws (20-25), dishing out 20 assists on 32 baskets and swiping 12 steals.

The Tigers led by five at the break, 37-32, and a swift 12-0 run five-and-a-half minutes into the second half ballooned the lead to 19 at 61-42. Alabama had not trailed by 10 points at any point in its games this season. The Crimson Tide got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

In the second half, the Tigers committed only six turnovers and six fouls. Memphis drew 14 second-half fouls and went 18-for-22 from the stripe (.818) in the last 20 minutes.

Alabama (8-2) was led by Keon Ellis' 19 points. Memphis held Crimson Tide stars Jahvon Quinerly and Jaden Shackelford to 22 combined points, 12 below their joint season average.

UP NEXT
Memphis travels to Nashville on Saturday to play No. 18/18 Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2. After that, Memphis concludes non-conference play next Tuesday, Dec. 21, against Alabama State at FedExForum.

Tickets and mini plans 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, Landers Nolley II, Emoni Bates, DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for the first time this season.
- The Tigers have now used six different starting lineups in 10 games this year.
Memphis extends its lead in the all-time series between the two schools to 6-3.
- The Tigers are a perfect 5-0 in games contested in Memphis.
Memphis' last win over a top-10 team came on March 1, 2014 against No. 7 Louisville.
- The Tigers had lost eight-straight since then.
Memphis had lost three-straight games against ranked teams before Tuesday's win.
- The Tigers' last victory over a ranked squad came against No. 22 Houston on Feb. 22, 2020.
Memphis has won 28-straight games when scoring 90 or more points.
The Tigers have won 37-straight games when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the floor.
- That includes a 4-0 mark this season.
- The streak dates back to shooting 54.4 percent (31-57) in an 87-74 loss at Cincinnati on Feb. 23, 2017.
The Tigers scored 44 points in the paint, their second-highest total in a game this season (48, vs. Western Kentucky, 11/19).
Memphis scored 29 points off 20 Alabama turnovers, their second-most in a contest this year (36, vs. North Carolina Central, 11/13).
Both Landers Nolley II and DeAndre Williams set their season highs in assists with six apiece, and Nolley II set his Memphis career high.
The Tigers are 21-9 when Tyler Harris has at least three 3-pointers in a game.

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