Tigers Host UAB Sunday on ESPN2 for Senior Day

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With two important regular season games left to determine its postseason positioning, the University of Memphis men's basketball team will look to make up some ground Sunday afternoon against longtime rival UAB in FedExForum. The Senior Day contest and home finale is set for a 4:30 p.m. tip on ESPN2.

Memphis will honor five seniors (Jayden Hardaway, Caleb Mills, Jahvon Quinerly, Nae'Qwan Tomlin and David Jones) in a pregame ceremony that will begin at 4 p.m.

The Tigers (21-8, 10-6 American Athletic Conference) enter the weekend in sixth place in the league standings, just a half game back of UAB (18-10, 10-5 AAC), who is tied with SMU for fifth. Memphis still has a path to a top-four seed and a double-bye in the AAC Championship, but it must continue to win.

After struggling with four-straight losses in January, the Tigers have since reverted back to their early-season ways that saw them climb to No. 10 in the national polls. They enter Sunday riding a three-game win streak that saw them record two 24-point victories and a 78-74 win against Florida Atlantic, the preseason AAC favorite.

Memphis demolished East Carolina, 82-58, on the road Thursday night and never trailed in the game. Reigning AAC Player of the Week Nae'Qwan Tomlin led the Tigers with 20 points, while David Jones logged his 10^th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Jahvon Quinerly finished with 10 points, seven assists, four steals and four rebounds.

UAB took the first meeting this season, 97-88, when the teams met in Birmingham, Alabama on Jan. 28. The Blazers shot 51.7 percent for the game and got a 23-point, 16-rebound effort from the AAC's leading rebounder Yaxel Lendeborg.

The Blazers have lost two of their last three outings with both losses coming at home to Rice (94-71) and Wichita State (74-66).

The all-time series between the two schools date back to 1983-84 with Memphis holding a 39-12 advantage. UAB has beaten Memphis just twice since 2006 as the Tigers have claimed 18 of the last 20 meetings. Memphis has defeated UAB 16-straight times at home dating back to 1998.

UP NEXT
Memphis will then get a week off before traveling to Boca Raton to take on Florida Atlantic in the final matchup of the regular season on CBS. The AAC Tournament then runs March 13-17 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

GAME DETAILS
Memphis Tigers (21-8, 10-6 AAC) vs. UAB Blazers (18-10, 10-5 AAC)
Sunday, March 3, 2024 | 4:30 p.m.
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN2 (Mike Corey pxp; Mark Adams, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)

BY THE NUMBERS

5.9: Assists per game from Jahvon Quinerly over the last nine games. He has recorded at least six dimes in seven of the nine.
10: Points needed by David Jones to tied Rodney Carney (2005-06) for 10^th-place on Memphis' single-season leaderboard for total points. He currently has 626, while Carney recorded 636.
40-3: Memphis' record under Penny Hardaway when holding its opponent under 60 points scored. The Tigers have done so five times this season, including twice in the last three games (Charlotte – 52 & East Carolina – 58). They have won 22-straight games when doing so. The last loss was Jan. 17, 2021 at Tulsa (58-57).
17-2: Record this season when Memphis leads with five minutes remaining in the game. They are 3-5, however, when trailing at that mark.
40.0: Combined points per game from David Jones and Nae'Qwan Tomlin over the last four games. The duo is also pulling down 14.3 rebounds with 3.3 steals, 1.8 blocks in that span.
71.4: Percent shooting for Nae'Qwan Tomlin over the last three games, which leads the team. The Harlem, New York native has made 20-of-28 shots and is also tops on the team with his 19.0 scoring average.
34: Fast break points for Memphis against East Carolina were the most in a game for the Tigers in at least the last four seasons.
80-12: Record at home for the Tigers in six seasons under Penny Hardaway. Seven of the 12 defeats have been a one-possession game.

SCOUTING UAB

The Blazers were tabbed fourth in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 128 total points, trailing Tulane (142) for third.
Eric Gaines was a preseason first team All-AAC selection and is second on the team in scoring (11.3). He leads the Blazers in assists (5.2) and steals (2.1) per game.
Big man Yaxel Lendeborg is averaging a double-double with a team-high 13.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He leads the AAC with 14 double-doubles and blocks per game (2.1).
Lendeborg is second in the nation with four games with at least 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Efrem Johnson (10.7), Alejandro Vasquez (10.3) and Javian Davis (10.1) are also averaging double figures for the Blazers.
UAB is sixth in the conference scoring offense (76.1) and 10th in scoring defense (74.9).

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

Jayden Hardaway

David Jones

Caleb Mills

Jahvon Quinerly

Nae'Qwan Tomlin

University of Memphis Athletics