Tigers, 49ers Clash Wednesday Night at FedExForum

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men's basketball team returns to FedExForum for an American Athletic Conference showdown with league-newcomer Charlotte in a "Blackout" game. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

With five games remaining in the regular season, Memphis (18-8) remains tied for sixth place in the conference with a 7-6 league record. The top-four teams in the standings receive a double-bye in next month's AAC Championship.

Memphis has some opportunities down the stretch with four games against teams ahead of the Tigers in the standings, three of which are at home.

The Tigers are looking to get back on track after dropping both outings of their Texas swing, falling 76-66 at North Texas and 106-79 at SMU last week. Senior forward David Jones continues to put up All-American numbers, grabbing two more double-doubles in The Lonestar State to give him four in a row.

The Dominican Republic product recorded his third 30-point game of the season Sunday against the Mustangs with 33 points and 10 rebounds. He enters Wednesday sixth in the nation in scoring (22.0) and is the only player in Division I averaging at least 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.

Wednesday's matchup will be the first meeting with Charlotte (17-8, 11-2) as AAC members. The Tigers lead the all-time series 8-6 and have a 6-1 advantage at home. The series was tied 6-6 when the two sides were members of Conference USA.

Charlotte rides into Memphis No. 2 in the conference standings after winning 11 of its last 12 games. The 49ers were picked next-to-last at No. 13 in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

UP NEXT
Memphis stays home for the most anticipated game of the year when Florida Atlantic invades the Bluff City Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest on ESPN. It will be the first meeting since last season's NCAA Tournament when the Owls sent the Tigers home with a 66-65 loss in the first round.

GAME DETAILS
Memphis Tigers (18-8, 7-6 AAC) vs. Charlotte (17-8, 11-2 AAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)

BY THE NUMBERS

1: Player in the nation averaging at least 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals this season: David Jones. He would be the first player to record those numbers in D-I since Zion Williamson in 2018-19 and the first Memphis Tiger to do so since Penny Hardaway in 1992-93. If you also include a 40-percent mark from 3pt range, he would join Glenn Robinson ('92-93) as the ONLY two players in the last 31 years to reach those totals.
23-11: Over the last four games, David Jones is averaging 23.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game with 4-straight double-doubles. The senior forward has also knocked down 14-28 from distance (50%) in that span. He has eight double-doubles on the year and leads the AAC with 16 games of 20+ points.
12-1: Record this season when Memphis makes more three-pointers than its opponent. The only loss was at UAB when the Tigers made 10 from distance compared to nine from the Blazers.
12.0: Points per game from Nae'Qwan Tomlin over the last seven games, which is 2^nd-best on the team. He has reached double figures in six of the seven. The senior is shooting 57.1 percent (32-56) in that span with 4.4 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING CHARLOTTE

The 49ers are 17-8 on the year and are riding a three-game win streak after defeating Wichita State 72-61 on Sunday.
Charlotte is holding opponents to just 64.8 points per game, which is second in the AAC and 24^th in the NCAA.
The 49ers lead the conference and rank 43^rd nationally in free throw percentage (75.5).
They have limited turnovers and are 12^th in the nation with 9.5 turnovers per game, which also leads the league.
Lu'Cye Patterson leads the team with 14.8 points per game. He's also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Igor Milicic Jr. is second on the squad averaging 12.8 points and third in the AAC with 8.6 rebounds per game. He also ranks second in the league and 42^nd in the country with nine double-doubles.
The 49ers are averaging 69.8 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting from the field.

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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Players Mentioned

David Jones

Nae'Qwan Tomlin

University of Memphis Athletics