Lawson averaged 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds en route to winning the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Memphis coach Josh Pastner announced Dedric Lawson would test the NBA waters Monday.
K.J. and Dedric Lawson led the way for the Tigers with 44 points and 23 rebounds combined, and the Tigers won 94-75 against University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.
After 17 double-doubles for Dedric last season, he started this year off with another —19 points and 15 rebounds. K.J. was just two boards shy of a double-double but led the team with 25 points.
After another solid outing for Dedric, he had high praise for the first year head coach, Tubby Smith.
“To be honest, I really love the way he coached,†he said. “He really coaches like my dad coached me in high school, and he says what he needs to say to get under my skin at times.â€
Jeremiah Martin seemed to answer any question about starting point-guard play with 13 points and six assists, but with him off the floor the Tigers had trouble taking care of the ball.
Markel Crawford set the tone for the Tigers on the first play of the game when he spun his way into the lane for the dunk and a foul. Memphis followed his lead and jumped out to a 11-5 lead.
The teams traded scores as Memphis kept a small lead until the Tigers went on a 13-0 run midway through the first half to go up 40-21. Craig Randall started the run with a three and Jimario Rivers added four points on a layup and two free throws.
Then the Vaqueros took advantage of the Tigers’ second unit and tightened the lead going on a 12-0 run to get within eight points. UTRGV was able to force turnovers by pressing the length of the court and trapping the ball. But Dedric hit a three just before the half to give Memphis a 51-40 half time lead.
The Tigers jumped on UTRGV to start the second half out-scoring them 20-6 and pushing the score to 71-46. Five different Memphis players scored during the run while Martin topped it off with a dunk and a three-pointer.
The Tigers coasted for the remainder of the game and won 94-75. Although Memphis scored 95 points and shot 47.8 percent from the field, they struggled from the three-point and free throw lines. The Tigers shot 28 percent from three, 7-25, and 60 percent from the charity stripe, 21-35.
Smith was satisfied with the win and raved about his team’s point guard, Martin.
“Jeremiah is talented,†Smith said. “He really can push the ball in transition, and he is a ball hawk defensively. He is an excellent athlete, and I love the way he’s running the team.â€
K.J. has his career high in points after last season was cut short by injury, and he never doubted himself. “One thing you can’t kill about K.J. Lawson is confidence,†Smith said.
He also credited his career game to playing within the system and taking advantage of what the defense gave him. Dedric was asked about playing with his brother, and he compared it to being super heroes.
He then claimed that he would be Super Man and K.J. would be Batman, but K.J. said “John Wayne.â€
Memphis will host Milwaukee on Wednesday, November 16 in the FedEx- Forum as they look to start the season 2-0.
