Tigers Return Home to Host Murray State Friday Night

Friday, December 10

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

Murray State

Tickets

Memphis vs. North Carolina Central Men’s Basketball

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Return Home to Host Murray State Friday Night

Dec 09, 2021 | Men's Basketball

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After three weeks away from home, the Memphis Tigers return to FedExForum Friday night looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Friday's game against Murray State is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN+.

Since last playing in Memphis on Nov. 19, the Tigers defeated RV/RV Virginia Tech in the NIT Season Tip-Off and fell to Iowa State, also in the NIT Season Tip-Off, plus Georgia and Ole Miss on the road.

The losses to Georgia and Ole Miss by a combined seven points came at the start of a stretch of four games against Southeastern Conference opponents in five outings. Memphis has not lost four-straight games under head coach Penny Hardaway and not since Feb. 2017.

Murray State enters Friday's game riding a four-game winning streak and holding a 7-1 record. Four Racers are averaging double-figure scoring, led by KJ Williams and Tevin Brown at 18.0 and 17.9 points per game, respectively. Murray State is currently seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (.513) and 20th in scoring offense (83.4 ppg) this year.

After the game against the Racers, Memphis hosts No. 9/9 Alabama Tuesday night at 8 on ESPN. The Tigers then head to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., to face No. 13/14 Tennessee at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. The Tigers will then conclude non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 21 against Alabama State.

GAME DETAILS
RV/RV Memphis Tigers (5-3) vs. Murray State (7-1)
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 | 7 p.m. CT
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
Satellite: Sirius 84 / XM 84 / SXM App 84

BY THE NUMBERS

11: Straight wins for Memphis at FedExForum, dating back to a 56-49 loss to Tulsa on Dec. 21, 2020.
100: Friday's game would be the 100th in Tyler Harris' collegiate career (75 so far at Memphis, 24 at Iowa State in 2020-21).
38.0: Percent of available rebounds have been gathered by the Memphis offense, which ranks 11th in the nation and is tops in the AAC.
86-10: Memphis' record since 2010-11 when holding opponents to 36.0 percent shooting or less; the Tigers limited Ole Miss to 35.3 percent shooting in Saturday's loss.
25.7: Percent of Memphis' opponents' points are coming from the free throw line, which is seventh-most in the country.

THE LAST TIME OUT

The Tigers cut an 11-point deficit with 2:19 to play down to two with 14 seconds to go, but Ole Miss hung on for a 67-63 win Saturday afternoon in Oxford, Miss.
No. 18/19 Memphis was led by DeAndre Williams' 13 points, and Earl Timberlake added 11 and five rebounds.
Tyler Harris and Josh Minott contributed nine and five points off the bench, respectively, and Minott also grabbed five rebounds.
After being behind 11 on two occasions, including with 2:19 remaining in the game, Memphis rattled off six-straight points with Harris knocking down a three and Williams finishing an and-one off a turnover.
The Tigers cut it to three points after a Harris layup off another Ole Miss turnover, and Harris converted two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to make it 65-63.
But Ole Miss' Nysier Brooks made both his free throws after being fouled, and the Tigers could not finish the comeback.
Memphis shot 38.8 percent for the game (19-49) and had 15 assists on its 19 field goals.
The Tigers were hampered by shooting 62.2 percent from the free throw line (23-37) and made two of their 11 3-point tries (.182).
Ole Miss (6-2) was 23-for-29 from the free throw line (.793), and the Rebels were led by Jarkel Joiner's 20 points.

NOTING THE OPPONENT

The Racers return four starters from last season's team that went 13-13 overall and 10-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Murray State has played in the NCAA Tournament four times since 2010, including twice in the last four seasons (2010, 2012, 2018, 2019).
Juniors KJ Williams and Tevin Brown, Murray State's two leading scorers, earned spots on the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Team.
The Racers were picked to finish third in the league's preseason poll, behind Belmont and Morehead State.
Murray State is not far removed from a three-peat of OVC regular-season championships from 2017-20.

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.