Tyler Harris guided the Memphis Tigers past the Yale Bulldogs 109-102 in a double-overtime game that had 17 lead changes. The freshman guard led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points.
For Harris it was a tale of two halves, as he shot 1-2 from the field and was 3-3 from the free throw line for a total of five points in the first half. The Tigers as a whole shot 15-32 for 46.9 percent and connected on 0-4 from the three during the first half.
The second half was a different story, as Harris nailed two three-point shots early to spark the Tiger offense that was stagnant in the first half. Harris finished the game connecting on 5-12 field goals and knocking down 3-9 from beyond the arc, but where he shined most was the free throw line, shooting 9-10.
As the clock was ticking toward the end of regulation, Harris was fouled on a missed three-point attempt. Down 83-80 with 2.9 seconds left, Harris delivered, knocking down three consecutive free throws to send the Tigers to overtime.
Harris said it was one of the most difficult things he has ever done, but he remembered to keep his faith.
“That was one of the hardest moments of my life,” Harris said. “I prayed to God before I shot every free throw. He came through for me.”
Harris said he felt the game was on his shoulders and everyone was relying on him to make the free throws.
“What was going through my mind, I just knew that I felt like the game was on line with me,” Harris said. “I felt like if I missed those free throws, I was going to blow the game for my teammates and also it’s my city. I felt like I was going to let everybody down.”
Harris had a rough season opener, shooting 0-6 from both the field and the three-point line against Tennessee Tech. Harris had a bounce-back performance at LSU, leading the team with 20 points and knocking down six three-pointers. Head coach Penny Hardaway said Harris has improved as a player, and he has confidence in Harris.
“He’s kind of getting more comfortable,” Hardaway said. “You know, Tyler is kind of trying to figure out where he can get his shots from, and I told him in the second half to get extra aggressive. I ran one play for him; he hit the three. I ran another play for him; he hit the three, and I knew he was going to get going. He is the type of kid once he gets going, he can fill it up.”
Hardaway went on to say Harris has increased his knowledge by studying film, along with developing a better sense of his role on the team.
Harris has proved, even when the game is on the line, and pressure is on him to make a shot, he can perform at a high level.
Freshman guard Tyler Harris attempts to steal the ball away from a driving Yale player.
