Tigers Romp UCF for Third-Straight Win

Saturday, February 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

12-8,6-4AAC

UCF

13-8,5-6AAC

UCF

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Feb 05, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After UCF pulled within a point at the start of the second half, the Memphis Tigers turned on the jets and ran away with an 88-60 win over the Knights Saturday night at FedExForum.

Memphis (12-8, 6-4 American Athletic Conference) has won three-straight games and six of its last nine overall. The 28-point margin of victory is the Tigers' second largest of the season, behind a 90-51 win over North Carolina Central in the season's second game on Nov. 13.

The Tigers were led by Josh Minott's 16 points in just 13 minutes of action. Tyler Harris added 15 points and five assists in 17 minutes of play, and Jalen Duren recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lester Quinones contributed 10 points, Alex Lomax had nine and Landers Nolley II scored eight points and had four assists.

Lomax was playing in his 100th career game as a Tiger.

Duren (2), Jayden Hardaway (4), Nolley II (4) and DeAndre Williams (6) were all back in action after missing multiple games due to injury.

Memphis led at the half, 36-27, after shooting 55.2 percent from the floor (16-29). UCF came out and scored the first eight points of the second half to bring the game within a point at 36-35, but the Tigers ripped off six-straight after that to regain some breathing room.

UCF (13-8, 5-6 AAC) got no closer than three points after that, and Memphis played the final 8:16 with a double-digit lead.

The Tigers ended the game shooting 56.5 percent from the field (35-62) and had 12 turnovers.

Memphis outrebounded the Knights, 41-36, and never trailed in the game.

UP NEXT
The Tigers remain home to host Tulane Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The game against the Green Wave is the Military & First Responders Game, as well as the Slive Foundation Game for prostate cancer research. Memphis then hits the road for three-straight contests, playing at Houston (next Saturday), at Cincinnati (Feb. 15) and at SMU (Feb. 20) before returning to FedExForum to face Temple on Thursday, Feb. 24.

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, Lester Quinones, Earl Timberlake, DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for the first time this season.
- Memphis has now used 15 different starting lineups in 20 games this season, which is the most in the nation.
Memphis leads the all-time series between the two schools, 28-7.
- That includes a 19-1 advantage in games played in Memphis.
- The Tigers have won six of the last seven contests, save for the meeting earlier this season in Orlando.
- The 28-point win is Memphis' largest over the Knights in its last 13 victories since winning 83-52 in the Conference USA Tournament on March 9, 2012.
The Tigers move to 16-7 in the month of February under head coach Penny Hardaway.
- Memphis is 6-0 in February over the last two seasons.
Memphis' field goal percentage of 56.5 is its best since shooting 59.3 percent in the season opener against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 9.
The Tigers have won 40-straight games when shooting better than 50.0 percent from the floor.
- The streak started after shooting 54.4 percent (31-57) in an 87-74 loss at Cincinnati on Feb. 23, 2017.
After entering the game ranked seventh in the nation in blocked shots per game (5.9), the Tigers swatted nine Knight tries.
- Memphis has blocked 19 shots in the last two games.
Josh Minott led the Tigers in scoring for the second time this season with his 16-point showing.
- His seven field goals Saturday night matched a season high (vs. Cincinnati, 1/9).
- Along with 16 points in 13 minutes Saturday night, Minott also has games of 12 points in 14 minutes (vs. Saint Louis, 11/16), eight points in 16 minutes (at Tulane, 12/29) and 15 points in 20 minutes (at Wichita State, 1/1) on his ledger this year.
Tyler Harris had five assists to go along with his 15 points.
- That is his second-highest assist total of the year, behind seven at East Carolina (1/15).
Jalen Duren's double-double is his third of the season, pulling him ahead of Minott for the team lead.
- Duren has blocked at least one shot in each of the 16 games he has played this year.
Lester Quinones has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the third time this season and ninth time overall.
- His nine 10-point games are tied with Harris just behind Duren's 10 for the team lead.

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.