Tigers Fall to No. 4/5 Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa

Tuesday, December 13

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

8:00 PM

University of Memphis

8-3,0-0AAC

#4/5 Alabama

9-1,0-0SEC

Memphis

Alabama

Photo by: Zach Wall

Dec 13, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Memphis battled until the final buzzer, but ultimately fell 91-88 on the road Tuesday night at No. 4/5 Alabama in Coleman Coliseum.

The loss brought an end to the Tigers' six-game win streak and dropped them to 8-3 on the year.

Senior Kendric Davis cemented his warrior status with a 30-point performance on 11-of-22 shooting and kept the Tigers in the game all night long with tough bucket after tough bucket.

DeAndre Williams nearly grabbed another double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. He played only 28 minutes after fouling out with 6:35 left in the game, changing the tone of the Tigers.

Davis scored the first two baskets of the game and then assisted on the next to give Memphis a 6-0 lead out of the gate. The Tigers led for most of the first half until Alabama (9-1) got an and-one with 8:26 on the clock to go in front 19-17.

After starting the game hot from the field, the Tigers went ice cold midway through the first half by only hitting 1-of-15 shots during a stretch, but was able to stay within striking distance as Alabama took a 36-33 advantage into the break.

Alabama was able to maintain its lead throughout the second half by getting to the free throw line time and time again. The Crimson Tide drained 21-of-26 at the stripe in the final 20 minutes, compared to just 12-of-17 from Memphis.

Despite falling behind by nine with :31 seconds left to play and no Williams or Malcolm Dandridge on the court, Memphis found a spark from its new addition, Damaria Franklin.

Just one day after finally learning he was eligible to play, Franklin earned the respect from Tiger nation in the final seconds. In the span of 20 seconds, he made a layup, grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw, and then converted another layup to keep the Tigers within two possessions. Following a three-point miss, Alex Lomax grabbed an offensive board before Keonte Kennedy sank the first three-pointer of the game for Memphis in the final second to end the game at 91-88.

Brandon Miller led the Tide with 24 points and eight rebounds.

Memphis returns home for another Southeastern Conference matchup on Saturday as Texas A&M visits FedEx Forum at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES

Memphis shot 34-of-79 from the floor (43.0%), 1-of-12 from deep and made 19-of-25 free throws (76.0%).
Alabama finished 26-of-54 overall (48.1%), 10-of-27 from long range (37.0%) and 29-of-40 at the charity stripe (72.5%).
Davis finished with a season high 30 points and added five assists and four steals.
Franklin recorded eight points and six rebounds in 18 minutes in his Tiger debut.
Elijah McCadden added eight points and went 3-of-4 shooting.
Dandridge added seven points and eight boards in 17 minutes off the bench.
Memphis led for 11:18 and dominated the paint, 54-32.

The Tigers committed just 10 turnovers, but forced Alabama into 19 miscues.