The University of Memphis Tigers (3-4) blew out the New Orleans Privateers (2-6) 86-70 Wednesday evening at the FedExForum. The win gave Memphis their first back-to-back wins of the season.
The Tigers were without sophomore guard Curtis Givens III (thigh bruise) and junior forward Ashton Hardaway (knee) in this game. But Memphis’ offense was flowing in the win, as they set a season high in first half points with 48, and a season high in total point this game with 86.
“This week was really zoomed focused on what we wanted out of our offense and why we were running certain things, and that really helped us today,” said coach Penny Hardaway in the postgame press conference. “We have to move on, if someone’s not ready, in understanding what we’re trying to do, they will have to catch up.
Neither of Memphis’s centers Aaron Bradshaw (11.8 MPG 6.0 PPG) or Thierno Sylla (16.3 MPG 3.3 PPG 3 REB) played in the 1st half. Sylla made his only appearance of the night with 9:00 remaining in the game, while Bradshaw, who scored a season high 14 PTS vs SIU last Wednesday, did not touch the court tonight.
“Coaches decision,” said Hardaway when asked about Bradshaw not playing and Sylla only having 2 minutes. “If guys aren’t on the floor that means they're not giving everything, we’re giving the guys a chance to get on the floor to put a product that the team, the university, and the city would be proud of.”
Sophomore guard and Memphis native Julius Thedford got the Tigers on the board for the first score of the half and continued his hot start, as he scored the first 8 points of the game to lead the Tigers 8-2, after a second made three.
The Privateers responded with a tough three from their leading scorer entering the game (16.9 PPG), senior guard Coleton Benton (3 PTS 1-9 FG), to get the game 8-7, before then tying the game 10-10 after a three from Kendrick Osby (3 PTS 1-9 FG).
At the first timeout of the game, the Tigers were up 13-10 with 15:15 remaining in the half, after 11 quick points from Thedford (4-4 FG 3-3 3FG). Thedford (13 PTS in the game) did come out of the game with 4:15 left in the half, with an apparent right knee injury, and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
“He didn’t seem like he was laboring, but you know the day after is usually worse, so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out,” Hardaway said.
Memphis’ leading scorer of the night, Quante Berry, finished with 17 points on 7/8 shooting.
“A lot of the shots just came out of the offense, the ball moving side to side, it’s just hard to guard,” said Quante Berry.
It was the Memphis guards who led the Tigers to start the game, as they scored the first 35 Memphis points of the game. The Tigers had a balanced night offensively, with 21 assists and six double-digit scorers.
“When you share the ball like that, there’s no way it’s not gonna be contagious and keep everyone happy,” Hardaway said. “You have to be able to repeat that if you want to be champions.”
Memphis freshman Simon Majok hit his second three of the season (2-3 on the year now) to take the lead to 20, 40-20, with 4:32 left in the half. Majok (13 PTS 6 REB 2 STL), set a season-high in points in the win, and gave the Tigers a different energy that they needed tonight.
“The energy, just getting to work and fighting for it,” said Majok. “Everyday, fighting, I’m a hard fighter, I’m not backing down from anybody. So, if we go in there to play with everybody, I can play with everybody, guard, big, doesn’t matter.”
Memphis’ senior guard Zach Davis (10 PTS 9 REB), hit back-to-back threes to give the Tigers a 20-point lead, 46-26, with 2:21 left in the half. Which was followed by the Tigers’ junior forward Arop Arop's first points of the season.
New Orleans’s freshman center Panagiotis Pagonis (4 PTS) made two free throws, after being fouled, to cut the Tigers lead 48-28, and end the first half.
The Tigers started out the second half strong as Majok made and missed a free throw, then scored a layup to get the first 3 points of the half for either team with 17:51 in the game, as this Memphis team seemed to be coming together on the court.
“We need for us to come together and listen to coaches and what coach says, and just have a bond to each other and play for each other, play for the team, and we good,” said Majok “Just need to listen more to coaches.”
Memphis kept the offensive pressure up, as they raised the lead to 57-34 at the first timeout out of the second half.
The Privateers refused to back down, as New Orleans made a 14-4 run to cut the Memphis lead 73-60 with 7:30 remaining in the game, behind a few buckets from leading scorer of the night, junior guard TJ Cope (21 PTS in 23 MIN), who averages 4.6 PPG on the season. The Tigers responded by drawing fouls getting to the free throw line and knocking down 5-6 free throws to get the lead back to 78-60 with four minutes left in the game.
Quante Berry hit the last three of the game to give the Tigers the 86-70 victory. Berry was asked postgame if he is looking ahead at Memphis’ upcoming four (Baylor, @Louisville, Vanderbilt, @Miss.State) game schedule, which could make or break the season.
“No, honestly I try to take it game by game, all that’s on our mind now is Baylor, we aren’t worried about anyone else but Baylor," Berry said.
The Tigers look to extend their win streak against the Baylor Bears (6-1) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the FedExForum. Streaming for the game will be available on ESPN+.
