Tigers fire on all cylinders in 96-69 win over UCF

Monday, February 1

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

10-6,6-3AAC

UCF

4-8,2-7AAC

UCF

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 01, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers shot a season-high 56.3 percent from the floor, made a season-best 13 3-pointers, and forced 28 turnovers in a 96-69 triumph over UCF Monday night at FedExForum.

The Tigers (10-6, 6-3 AAC) have won four of their last five games. The 27-point margin of victory matched Memphis' 80-53 win at East Carolina on Jan. 24 for its largest in an American Athletic Conference contest this season.

The Tigers last hit 90 points in a conference game with a 102-76 win over Tulane on Feb. 20, 2019.

Landers Nolley II led all scorers with 20 points, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and DeAndre Williams had 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the field. Alex Lomax hit a career-high four 3-pointers and ended with 14 points, four steals, and three assists, and Lester Quinones had 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Boogie Ellis started and had 11 points, four steals, and three assists, and D.J. Jeffries was just outside double figures with nine points.

The Tigers jumped on UCF (4-8, 2-7 AAC) right from the start and never looked back, leading 17-3 at the first media timeout. Memphis started 7-for-9 from the floor with assists on six of those baskets. The Tigers forced five UCF turnovers in the first few minutes and limited the Knights to just two shots.

Memphis led 52-29 at the half after shooting 56.3 percent from the field (18-32) and forcing 19 UCF turnovers that led to 29 points. UCF's 19 first-half turnovers were more than all but one of Memphis opponent this season had in the entire game.

Williams, fresh off earning a spot on the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll, had 13 first-half points after going a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor. Nolley II had 11 in the first 20 minutes.

UCF got no closer than 20 points in the second half, and the Tigers led by as many as 31 en route to the victory.

Memphis had 20 steals in the game, its most since at least 2000-01.

The Tigers never trailed in the game, and the contest was never tied.

Brandon Mahan finished with 15 points to lead UCF.

Up Next
Memphis hosts UCF again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The Tigers finish next week against East Carolina on Saturday at 1 p.m. on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. The last game on Memphis' four-game homestand is Thursday, Feb. 11 against Cincinnati at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU.

A limited number of tickets are available for Memphis home games 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.

Postgame Notes

Memphis used the starting lineup of Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, Landers Nolley II, DeAndre Williams, and Moussa Cisse for the first time this season.
- It is Memphis' eighth different starting lineup in 16 games this year.
- Ellis made his third start of the season and first since Dec. 2 against Arkansas State and Dec. 4 against Central Arkansas.
The Tigers now lead the all-time series between the two schools, 25-6.
- UCF has still only won one time in Memphis, 68-64 on Feb. 11, 2018, with the Tigers holding a 17-1 advantage in The Bluff City.
Memphis is 6-1 this season in games immediately following a loss.
- The Tigers have only lost back-to-back games once this season (Nov. 26-27).
Memphis has won four-straight games at FedExForum and is 7-1 at home this season.
The Tigers forced 28 turnovers in the game, which led to 40 points.
- Memphis' season high for turnovers forced is 30 (vs. Central Arkansas, Dec. 4).
Memphis had a season-high 20 steals.
- The last time the Tigers had 21 in a game was on Jan. 22, 1977 against Brandeis and Dec. 7, 1995 against Georgia State.
Landers Nolley II led the Tigers in scoring for the seventh time this season and turned in his fourth 20-point game of the year.
- He has hit multiple 3-pointers in three-straight games, four of the last five, and 11 times in 16 games this season.
DeAndre Williams had a career-high-tying five steals to go along with 15 points.
- He also had five steals against USF on Dec. 29.
Alex Lomax hit a career-high four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.
- His previous career high was two 3-pointers, done three times, including earlier this season against Wichita State on Jan. 21.
Lester Quinones filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
- He was in double-figure scoring for the first time in five games, since having 12 at Tulsa on Jan. 17.
- The three steals matched a season high (at Tulane, Dec. 16).
- His six assists were one shy of a career high set earlier this season against Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 8).
Boogie Ellis had four steals and three assists to go along with 11 points.
- The four steals are a season high and one shy of his career high.
Jordan Nesbitt made his collegiate debut and played seven minutes.
- He enrolled in college a semester early after prepping at St. Louis Christian Academy in St. Louis, Mo.