Memphis bounces back with 18-point road win over South Florida

Must-win games in early February are never fun. But this was the reality the Memphis Tigers faced entering tonight’s matchup against South Florida. The margin for error is completely non-existent following the home loss to Tulane.

1st Half

Knowing this was a must-win game, Memphis came out clicking on all cylinders. An early 9-2 lead was started by Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu with a nice post move, followed by a Keonte Kennedy triple, an Elijah McCadden lay-up and a Kendric Davis bucket. The Tigers were just as good defensively forcing five turnovers in the first 3:36 of the game. A three from familiar face Tyler Harris settled things down for USF as they got back into the game. After an early 13-4 deficit, the Bulls went on a 7-0 run making it a two-point game with 14:28 in the half.

Back and forth they went as both teams pushed the pace. The up-tempo nature of the game definitely favored Memphis. Kendric Davis found a streaking DeAndre Williams for a fast-break slam giving the Tigers a 19-13 lead.

We love DeAndre dunks. pic.twitter.com/3ptu4QG7MD
— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) February 9, 2023

After a hot shooting start, Memphis cooled down considerably and was only 8-of-20 at the 9:50 mark in the half. But their defensive pressure continued to trouble USF allowing the Tigers to maintain their advantage. A sweet pass from Elijah McCadden to a cutting Damaria Franklin and a good half-court play to free up DeAndre for a lay-up pushed the Tigers’ lead 25-17 with 8:44 left.

Tyler Harris responded with a deep three and some words to the Memphis bench. But McCadden answered with a finish at the rim. A couple of Williams free-throws gave the Tigers a seven-point lead.

That seven-point lead quickly became 13 after back-to-back Kendric Davis triples over the Tyler Harris. The Tigers are well aware of Harris’s ability to keep his team in games with three-pointers. On the next few USF possessions, Memphis tracked Harris well as he tried to get loose off-ball and disturbed USF’s offensive rhythm. A missed shot turned into a defensive rebound and fast break opportunity that Kendric Davis was able to capitalize on with a transition triple over Harris.

bang. BANG. @150__KD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AYWivLnpXP
— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) February 9, 2023

The made bucket allowed Memphis to set up its full-court press, which forced the Bulls’ 10th turnover of the game. Chandler Lawson found Davis for another three over Harris’s outstretched arm. Keonte Kennedy wanted in on the action and hit a corner triple extending the Memphis lead to 40-25.

USF stayed within striking distance after a Keyshawn Bryant dunk cut the lead to seven. The Tigers still had to finish the half strong and keep their momentum.

Damaria Franklin tried to do just that with a smooth pull-up jumper. Then, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu invited all of Tampa to his block party with an impressive swat at the rim. Back-to-back Davis lay-ups allowed Memphis to close the half on a 6-0 run.

Memphis led 48-35 at half. Kendric Davis paced all scorers with 14 points. DeAndre Williams had 10, and Keonte Kennedy had eight, while Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu had six points and three blocks.

2nd Half

The second half started much like the first ended, with a Kendric Davis bucket. His triple was followed by a Keonte and-one giving Memphis its biggest lead of the game at 16. Though USF responded with some timely buckets, the Tigers lead was still 10 at the 15:51 mark.

Entering the timeout, Kendric Davis and Tyler Harris got into it a bit and were both called for a technical foul. Memphis responded to the jawing with a Keonte Kennedy three after a Kendric Davis dime. That wasn’t all from Keonte though. After DeAndre missed a jumper, Keonte skied for a put-back lay-up that he was fouled on.

K E O N T E 🗣️🗣️ pic.twitter.com/CFCOvQ6VQr
— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) February 9, 2023

Then, DeAndre got his flex moment as he stole the ball, ran down the floor and showed off some grown-man strength with an and-one of his own pushing the Memphis lead to a game-high 19, 67-48.

USF took the Tigers’ haymaker and responded with a couple of jabs cutting the lead to 13 at the under-12-minute timeout. Lots of game left.

Over the next couple of minutes, the lead kept teetering between 11 and 14 points with both sides playing with high energy. After DeAndre Williams hit two free throws giving Memphis a 14-point lead, a fade-away banked triple from Tyler Harris cut the lead to nine with 8:59 to play.

Memphis has struggled to close out games this year, especially on the road. With that in mind, we know Kendric Davis will be Kendric Davis. But will he be the lone closing act? Or will his co-stars step up?

After two Davis free throws, USF was bailed out of a 10-second violation after Elijah McCadden was called for a foul on Tyler Harris. He hit two shots of his own shrinking the lead back to nine. While the Tigers have been solid from the free-throw line so far, three straight misses from Chandler Lawson and Keonte Kennedy were unwelcome sights.

Luckily, USF couldn’t capitalize on the missed free throws. Instead, Kendric Davis grabbed a rebound and threw an outlet pass to a leaking DeAndre Williams who finished at the rim for a big time and-one.

Memphis led 85-74, 5:12 left.

On the next few Tiger possessions, the Bulls ran a 2-3 zone to disrupt the Memphis offense. But good ball movement allowed the Tigers to break the zone and maintain a 91-79 lead with just 2:55 remaining.

USF continued its zone defense after the timeout. But the Tigers weren’t phased scoring on their next four possessions with an Elijah McCadden lay-up, two Davis jumpers, and a DeAndre Williams step-back for good measure to put the nail in the coffin.

Memphis leaves Tampa with a needed win, 99-81.

Quick Takeaways

Don’t forget about the defense.

People will see 99 points and credit the offense for this victory. While Memphis shot 52.9 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three, give credit to the Tiger defense. Memphis was stellar defensively forcing 17 turnovers and allowing USF to only shoot 31.6 percent from three. Other than Tyler Harris’s four triples, USF only made two the entire game. Tonight’s three-point defense was especially encouraging moving forward.

2. KD’s co-stars closed the game.

To fully answer the question I posed before, Kendric Davis’s co-stars closed the game. Keonte Kennedy, Elijah McCadden, DeAndre Williams and even Chandler Lawson hit clutch buckets to maintain their momentum. There were many moments of deja vu in the final 10 minutes of the game. While the Tigers continually had around a 10-point lead, one would be foolish to assume this contest was over. But multiple players stepped up in big moments and never allowed USF to go on a game-changing run.

The Tigers face Temple at home on Sunday, February 12 at 11 am.