Tigers Cut 14-Point Deficit to Two but Cannot Complete Comeback

Thursday, January 20

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

9-8,3-4AAC

SMU

14-4,5-1AAC

SMU

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers Cut 14-Point Deficit to Two but Cannot Complete Comeback

Jan 20, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers fell behind by 14 points in the first half and cut the deficit to two to start the second half, but SMU pulled away and picked up a 70-62 win Thursday night at FedExForum.

Memphis (9-8, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) was led by Tyler Harris' 17 points. Jalen Duren added 11 and nine rebounds. Alex Lomax, playing his first game since Dec. 29 at Tulane, had five points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals in 26 minutes.

The Tigers were playing without DeAndre Williams, Landers Nolley II and Jayden Hardaway due to injury. Now seven different Tigers, Emoni Bates, Duren, Hardaway, Lomax, Nolley II, Earl Timberlake and Williams, have missed at least one game this month due to injury.

NR/RV SMU (14-4, 5-1 AAC) was paced by the conference's leading scorer, Kendric Davis, who had 20 points.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 16-2 lead nine minutes into the game and led at halftime, 32-21. The Tigers scored the first six points of the second half and cut the deficit to 32-27, and it was down to two at 34-32 a few minutes later after a Lomax and-one.

A couple of possessions later Lomax converted a driving layup in the paint, swiped the subsequent SMU inbounds play and found Duren, who drew a foul and made both free throws to make the score 40-38 with 12 minutes to play.

But Memphis would get no closer after that, and SMU snapped the Tigers' nine-game home conference winning streak.

Memphis shot 41.0 percent from the field in the game (25-61).

UP NEXT
The Tigers head to Tulsa to wrap up the week Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN. Memphis then returns to FedExForum next Thursday, Jan. 27, against East Carolina at 8 p.m.

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 Earl Timberlake, Lester Quinones, Emoni Bates, Josh Minott and Jalen Duren for the second-straight game.
- That stopped a streak of nine-straight new starting lineups for the Tigers.
- Memphis has used 12 different starting lineups in 17 games this season.
Memphis still leads the all-time series between the two schools, 15-14.
- SMU has won back-to-back matchups, four of the last five and 10 of the last 13.
Memphis had won nine-straight AAC home games, dating back to a 56-49 loss to Tulsa on Dec. 21, 2020.
Tyler Harris led the Tigers with 17 points.
- He has topped the Memphis scoresheet in three of the last four games and a team-high five times this year.
- The senior hit a 3-pointer, moving him past Jeremy Hunt (2002-07) into sole possession of fifth place on Memphis' career leaderboard (168).
Jalen Duren grabbed nine rebounds for the second-straight game to go along with 11 points.
- The freshman also blocked two shots, giving him at least one swat in each of the 15 games he has played this season.
Alex Lomax tied season highs with five rebounds (2x, last at Tulane, 12/29) and four steals (vs. Western Kentucky, 11/19).
- His five assists in the game were one shy of a season high (6, at Tulane, 12/29).

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.