Memphis lost 69-68 on Friday night against Wake Forest on a buzzer-beater three as time expired in the consolation game at Baha Mar Hoops to fall to 1-4 on the season. It's Memphis' worst start to a season since the 1996-97 season which was Larry Finch's final year at the helm.
Memphis’ starting backcourt of Dug McDaniel and Zach Davis once again carried the team. McDaniel had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and hit two free throws to take the lead with one second left. Davis had 12 points and 5 rebounds and played great defense down the stretch.
“Tough game. Kicking myself for not missing that second free throw," Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway said. "That’s a mistake on my part.”
Memphis’ starting bigs struggled as the Tigers try to find a solution at those positions. Starting power forward Aaron Bradshaw scored 3 points and fouled out in only 8 minutes. Starting center Simon Majok played good defense but had 0 points. Forward William Whorton provided some help off the bench, scoring his first points as a Tiger.
Memphis started hot carrying over momentum from the Purdue game, taking a 19-6 lead. Dug McDaniel started the game on fire shooting 4 for 4 from three. Wake Forest settled into the game and fought back. The Tigers led 33-27 at the half.
The second half became a slugfest with Curtis Givens III going out with an injury and Julius Thedford and Zachary Davis both getting bloody noses. Memphis went on a run and got up 60-49, but Wake Forest quickly fought back cutting the lead to two.
Wake Forest got a defensive rebound with 9 seconds left and got fouled sending them to the free throw line. They made both to tie the game at 66.
Dug McDaniel quickly drove to the basket and got fouled with 1.5 seconds left. He made both free throws and put Memphis up 2.
Wake Forest didn’t have any timeouts left and had to throw the ball full court. They ran the same play they ran last night, and Myles Colvin hit a three at the buzzer to give Wake Forest the win.
"Welp, stole that one," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said.
Memphis’s next game will be at home against Southern Illinois next Wednesday at 7 pm. It’ll be streamed on ESPN+.
