Tigers Host Rice Wednesday for Memphis State Throwback Game

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Just weeks removed from a nonconference run filled to the brim with anticipation for the University of Memphis men's basketball team, such expectations have subsided.

The Tigers reeled off 10-straight wins, opened the season 15-2 and rose to No. 10 in the national polls despite rostering 13 new players in 2023-24. After withstanding back-to-back one-possession games with buzzer beaters from Jahvon Quinerly and putting up an AAC single-game record 112 points at Wichita State, Memphis has suddenly dropped three-consecutive games and has fallen out of the top-25.

However, the Tigers have a chance to get their wits about them during a two-game homestand this week to wrap up the first half of the league slate.

On Wednesday, Memphis welcomes AAC newcomer Rice to FedExForum for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+. It will be the Memphis State Throwback Game where giveaways include Penny Hardaway posters, designed to look like the 1986-87 media guide cover from Coach Larry Finch's first season as head coach, and Memphis State t-shirts for the first 3,000 fans who enter FedExForum when doors open at 6 p.m.

In-game elements, including graphics on the video board, music and dance performances will also be throwing it back to the late 1980s Memphis State Tigers.

The Tigers (15-5, 4-3 AAC) and Owls have met just 10 times in their history, but Memphis has won nine of those matchups. Wednesday's meeting will be the first since 2013.

Rice enters the contest with a 7-13 overall record, and a 1-6 mark in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls are coming off an 85-83 defeat to Tulsa last Saturday.

The Owls are led by fifth-year senior guard Travis Evee, who is scoring 15.7 points per game, good for eighth in the American.

UP NEXT
Memphis will stay at home this weekend for a noon CBS battle with Wichita State on Saturday. The Tigers will then head to Temple (Feb. 8) next week.

GAME DETAILS
Memphis Tigers (15-5, 4-3 AAC) vs. Rice (7-13, 1-6 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis; Morgan Uber, sideline)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)

BY THE NUMBERS

16.0: Points per game from big man Malcolm Dandridge over the last two games to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 2.5 steals. He's coming off a career-high 19 points at UAB and a career-high eight blocks at Tulane. He's shooting a team-high 70.6% over the stretch (12-17).
68.3: Nicholas Jourdain's field goal percentage in the 15 Tiger wins (43-63), compared to 44.4 percent in Memphis' five losses (8-18). His three-point percentage also fluctuates from 54.5% (12-22) in wins to 25.0% (1-4) in losses.
26-17: Memphis' record in the month of January under head coach Penny Hardaway. That means 30 percent of his career defeats (17-of-57) have come in the month. His teams typically rebound in February, where he is 26-10 in his first five seasons.
5.1: Blocks per game for the Tigers this season, which leads the AAC and ranks 23^rd in the country. Malcolm Dandridge leads the team with 1.6 per contest and ranks 22^nd in the nation with a 9.5 block percentage. He has 15 blocks in the last six games.
85.6: Points per game for Memphis in AAC play, which is the top mark in the league. The Tigers are also tops in field goal percentage (50.1) and blocks per game (6.1). They are 2^nd-best in 3-point percentage (39.9).

SCOUTING RICE

Rice was tabbed 11^th in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll, between Tulsa and Temple.
Max Fielder was picked as a preseason second team all-conference player. He's averaging 9.8 points and is leading the conference with 9.9 rebounds.
Fielder's also second in the league with 5.4 assists and fourth in field goal percentage, connecting on 64.7% from the floor. He paces the conference and is second in the nation with 4.4 offensive rebounds per game.
Sophomore guard Mekhi Mason is second on the team with 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
In conference play, Mason is eighth in the AAC with 16.4 points per game, fifth in steals (1.9), and 10th in assists (3.6).
Senior guard Alem Huseinovic is recording 7.7 points per game and is connecting on 46.0% from the field and 41.6% from three.
Freshman Keanu Dawes is scoring 6.2 points per game and is third on the team with 4.1 rebounds.
The Owls are scoring 73.1 points per game while allowing 75.7.
Rice is connecting on 43.5% from the field and 32.3% from three. Its opponents are connecting on 45.2% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc.
The Owls are outrebounding their opponents, 36.8-to-35.6.
Rice is averaging 15.1 assists per game, good for third in the American.
Head coach Scott Pera is in his seventh season leading the Rice men's basketball program.

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.

Tigers Host Rice Wednesday for Memphis State Throwback Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Malcolm Dandridge

Nicholas Jourdain

Jahvon Quinerly

University of Memphis Athletics

Tigers Host Rice Wednesday for Memphis State Throwback Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Malcolm Dandridge

Nicholas Jourdain

Jahvon Quinerly

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