The Memphis Tigers are officially the champions of the American Athletic Conference.
Let it sink in.
Led by the dynamic duo of guard Kendric Davis (31 points and AAC tournament MVP) and forward De’Andre Williams(16 points), Memphis utilized a strong first half performance en route to a 75-65 victory over the #1 ranked Houston Cougars. The victory represents the program’s first AAC championship ever, and sends Houston to the Big 12 as losers in their conference finale. In addition, Memphis defeated the #1 ranked team for the first time in school history.
1st half- Memphis dictated the pace of play early on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Davis, per usual, served as the offensive catalyst, putting up 20 points in the first session alone. He was supplemented by Tiger guard Alex Lomax and De’Andre Williams, who each scored 7 points apiece.
The Tigers defense swarmed Houston early and often, permitting the Cougars to convert on just 30 percent of their field goal attempts in the first session of play. During one portion of the period, Houston missed 10 straight field goal attempts, which can be fully attributed to the sweltering play of Memphis.
The Tigers sprinted into intermission up 46-31, one half away from defeating a squad who downed them twice in the regular season.
In the second half, Memphis and Houston each struggled offensively. The Tigers converted just 37 percent in the second half, and Houston did even worse at 33 percent. The defenses strapped up, and what was a double digit halftime lead quickly evaporated for Memphis.
Despite not converting on many of their shot attempts late, Memphis’s defense made up for the lackluster offense by only allowing Houston to convert just 27 percent of their three-pointers in the second half.
Also, another factor that changed the outcome of today’s game included the role players on Memphis stepping up and making plays. Ranging from Alex Lomax making key steals to Elijah McCadden grabbing rebounds, this victory was truly a team effort and epitomized what Penny Hardaway has been preaching this entire season.