Tigers roar once more in acquire more than East Carolina
Damion Baugh’s 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining in the 1st half sent a wave of excellent vibes by means of the relaxation of the Memphis basketball crew Sunday.
When East Carolina’s last-second, 3-quarter court heave skipped, the Tigers have been all smiles and rode that wave into their locker place inside of Williams Arena. They have been however smiling by the end of the game, beating the Pirates 80-53, marking the second time this year Memphis has won back-to-back again online games.
Coming off a 20-point victory over Wichita State three times before, the Tigers (8-5, 4-2 AAC) introduced that momentum to Greenville, North Carolina, from and overmatched an undermanned Ecu (7-4, 1-4). The Pirates, who came into the video game getting performed just two online games due to the fact Dec. 22 due to problems with COVID-19, had just eight scholarship gamers offered and have been also lacking their head mentor, Joe Dooley.
Memphis faces a brief turnaround, welcoming SMU to FedExForum on Tuesday (6 p.m., ESPNU).
Here are five takeaways from the acquire about European.
Initial fifty percent just like the very last
The Tigers put their foot on the gasoline pedal in the second 50 percent of Thursday’s victory as opposed to the Shockers, scoring 47 points and capturing 57.6% from the industry.
Penny Hardaway’s workforce picked up Sunday correct in which it still left off. Tied with European 10-10 5 minutes in, Memphis was propelled on an 25-4 operate by the 1st of two D.J. Jeffries 3-ideas. The Tigers were being 4-of-8 from outside of the arc all through that extend and 11 for 25 in the activity.
Three-issue subject aim performance has not been among the Memphis’ powerful suits this time. The group has created fewer than eight 3-pointers in eight of its 13 games this time. But items are starting to look up. The Tigers are 22 for 43 in their previous two game titles.
Sharing is caring
Selfishness was some thing that price the Tigers time and again early in the period.
Only two times prior to the earn around Wichita Point out did Memphis complete a video game with far more than 20 helps. But the Tigers have gotten into the sharing temper.
The Tigers, just after putting up 22 helps (on 28 made subject targets) from the Shockers, had been back again at it Sunday. Memphis was credited with 20 helps (on 20 can make), tied for the most about a two-sport span given that accumulating 42 in wins above Central Arkansas and Mississippi Valley Condition on Dec. 4 and 8.
Additional Moussa Cisse
Freshman heart Moussa Cisse place collectively another standout demonstrating in the win, leading the Tigers by placing up a vocation-significant 15 points and hauling in 9 rebounds. He fouled out with 3:08 still left in the sport.
Memphis was intent on acquiring the 6-11 previous Lausanne star involved early. Coming off scoring a dozen points in the next fifty percent towards Wichita State, Cisse tried the team’s 1st 3 area ambitions, creating one particular. He finished the initially half with eight points.
Not-so-wonderful 2nd 50 percent
As perfectly as the Tigers played in the very first 50 percent – 52.9% from the subject, 53.3% from a few, seven turnovers – the next 50 percent was a very little less glowing.
Memphis shot 45.8% from the discipline, was just 3-of-10 from very long vary and dedicated 10 extra turnovers.
The Pirates outscored the Tigers 35-31 in the 2nd fifty percent.
Stingy Tigers
Memphis has developed a name underneath Hardaway for becoming one of the stingiest defenses in the place.
Hardly ever has that been a lot more apparent than its past five games. The Tigers, who held Eu to 53 points in Sunday’s earn, have held each individual of its last 5 AAC opponents to 58 factors or less.
The last time a Memphis workforce attained these kinds of a string of defensive success was the 2007-08 period. The Tigers held Ecu, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss and Tulsa (Jan. 9-23, 2008) to 58 points or fewer.
Reach sports activities writer Jason Munz at [email protected] or on Twitter @munzly.