Tigers Ride Out Bulls to 99-81 Win

Wednesday, February 8

Tampa, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

18-6,8-3AAC

South Florida

10-14,3-8AAC

Memphis

South Fla.

Feb 08, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

TAMPA, Fla. – The Memphis Tigers went on the road and defeated South Florida, 99-81, Wednesday night to improve to 18-6 and 8-3 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) at the Yuengling Center.

Fifth-year forward DeAndre Williams was Memphis' leading scorer (24) while adding five rebounds and a pair of assists. Fifth-year guard Kendric Davis scored 23 points, added eight dimes and five boards, while redshirt-senior Keonte Kennedy poured in a season-high 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Memphis committed just eight turnovers in the game, its fewest of the season.

The Tigers first got on the board 20 seconds into the game when Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu finished one off the glass and never looked back.

Memphis scored the final six points of the first half after USF (10-14, 3-8 AAC) came within seven to send the Tigers into the locker room with a 48-35 advantage. Davis had 14 points and four assists and Williams poured in 10 in the opening 20 minutes.

The Tigers took their largest lead of the night at the 14:34 mark of the second half when Williams converted an and-one to go up 67-48. South Florida continued to battle and got back to within eight with 5:46 remaining after former Tiger Tyler Harris scored six-straight to lead the charge.

From that point on Davis and Williams closed the game with 11 points down the stretch as Memphis outscored the Bulls 17-7 over the final five minutes to secure the 99-81 victory.

South Florida was led by Tyler Harris' 28 points. With his third triple of the night, Harris became the AAC's all-time leader in three-pointers made with 266 for his career.

UP NEXT
The Tigers are back in FedExForum for an 11 a.m. tip Sunday against Temple on ESPN2 before welcoming UCF at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of Kendric Davis, DeAndre Williams, Keonte Kennedy, Elijah McCadden and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu for the seventh-straight game.
- The Tigers are now 6-1 in those games.
Memphis has won five-straight games against the Bulls and now leads the all-time series 32-7.
- That includes a 15-3 advantage in games played in Tampa.
Kendric Davis ended the contest with 23 points and eight assists.
- He has now scored 20-plus points in eight-straight contests.
- That matches the longest streak since Jeremiah Martin's eight-game stretch from Feb. 13 to March 14 in 2019.
- That is his 17^th game of the season and 48^th of his career with 20-plus points.
DeAndre Williams finished with a team-high 26 points on 8-13 shooting from the floor and matched his career high with a perfect 10-for-10 mark from the free throw line.
- He eclipsed double-digits for the 20^th-consectuve game and has now scored at least 15 points in 19 outings.
Keonte Kennedy continued his hot streak with a season-high 19 points.
- He scored in double figures for the sixth-straight game and for the seventh time in his last eight
- Kennedy also pulled down a season high five rebounds.
Elijah McCadden poured in 14 points, his fifth double-digit outing of the season and second-highest output of the AAC season.
The Tigers scored a season high 30 points off 17 USF turnovers.
Memphis outscored the Bulls 46-30 in the paint and 21-14 off fastbreaks.
The Tigers shot 52.9 percent overall (36-68) and made 6-of-14 from long range (42.9%).
Memphis connected on 21-of-24 at the free throw line, seventh time this season they've gone over 20 makes.
The Tigers led for 39:10 and never trailed.

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.
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