RECAP: No. 13 Memphis stumbles to overtime victory over UTSA

The Tigers played down to their competition for the fourth time in five games, but they still found a way to earn their ninth consecutive win.

No. 13 Memphis (14-2) defeated UTSA 107-101 in overtime, yet another outing that will likely leave computer metrics like KenPom and the NCAA NET rankings, which ranked the Tigers No. 44 and 47 respectively before Wednesday’s game, scratching their virtual heads. The Roadrunners (7-9), meanwhile, were slotted at No. 285 by both programs.

Memphis shot 53% from the field and 48% from 3-point range in the high-scoring showdown. The Tigers also forced 8 turnovers, 5 steals and 5 blocks. Additionally, they won the rebounding battle 43-34, racked up 18 assists and shot 70% at the free throw line.

UTSA (7-9) made 45% of its field goal attempts and 38% of its 3-point shots. The Roadrunners also racked up 9 forced turnovers, 8 offensive rebounds, 4 steals, 20 assists and 3 blocks. Additionally, they scored 55 points in the paint and shot 76% at the free throw line.

Penny Hardaway’s team now gears up for its second AAC road affair at Wichita State on Sunday.

Here are some takeaways from yet another mediocre showing from Memphis basketball.

UTSA imitates the Golden State Warriors

You may as well have called them the San Antonio Splash Brothers.

The Roadrunners scorched the Tigers from behind the 3-point line in the first half, shooting 7-of-21 from deep during the period. UTSA was a 35.3% 3-point shooting team heading into Wednesday’s contest, so a 33% first half clip doesn’t seem too off-script. But that was only because Steve Henson’s team missed its last five 3-point attempts before the break.

Jordan Ivy-Curry made three bombs by himself. PJ Carter knocked down two. Isiah Wyatt and Chandler Cuthrell each made one perimeter shot. UTSA continuously broke Memphis’ press defense and took advantage of the latter’s lackadaisical effort to carry a 37-35 lead into the game’s intermission.

The 3-point barrage continued in the second half. In fact, it was even worse as UTSA shot a 50% clip from deep in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Carlton Linguard Jr. made two bombs, as did Cuthrell, Fuller and Ivy-Curry. The Tigers never truly figured out how to stop the Roadrunners’ offense, and ultimately had their worst defensive outing of the season.

Luckily for Memphis, UTSA shot just 17% from deep in overtime.

Wonky first half substitutions

The Tigers trotted out their normal starting five of Jahvon Quinerly, David Jones, Jaykwon Walton, Nick Jourdain and Malcolm Dandridge, but that was about the only ordinary thing with Memphis’ first half rotation.

Nae’Qwan Tomlin was Hardaway’s first man off the bench at the 16:47 mark. Fair enough, but then came Hardaway’s two sons (Jayden and Ashton) to replace Jourdain and Dandridge 30 seconds later—not Jayhlon Young, who Hardaway proclaimed should get more minutes after Sunday’s 62-59 win over SMU.

Young subbed in at the 15:31 mark, though. And the Tigers subsequently trotted a lineup of Young, Walton, Tomlin and Jayden and Ashton Hardaway. Weird.

Later on in the half, Memphis’ five consisted of Quinerly, Jones, Jourdain, Tomlin and Dandridge—meaning Hardaway played his top two guards next to his entire frontcourt. Freshmen Carl Cherenfant and Jonathan Pierre also got some playing time before the half.

Memphis largely stuck with its veterans in both the second half and overtime, however, which helped it slowly but surely pull away from UTSA down the stretch.

Memphis outlasts UTSA in overtime

The Tigers looked like they had finally taken control to start the second half.

The two schools kept trading baskets throughout the first six minutes of the period, but then Memphis went on what looked like a game-changing run. A 54-51 Tigers lead at the 14:35 mark quickly turned into a 63-55 advantage at the 12:47 mark after Jones, Walton and Tomlin all hit from deep.

UTSA, however, quickly re-turned the tide by going on its own 7-0 run to make it a one-point game with 10:32 to play. The AAC foes then went back to exchanging both buckets and the lead during the contest’s final 10 minutes.

The game reached its climax at the 2:01 mark, however, once Dre Fuller Jr. hit a 3-pointer that gave the Roadrunners an 89-86 lead. Ivy-Curry then extended that to a 92-88 advantage with his own deep bomb with 1:37 left in regulation. But Memphis tied things back up with two made free throws by Quinerly and an inbounds steal that turned into a Nick Jourdain slam.

Memphis and UTSA each made two more free throws after that, leaving the game even at 94 points apiece with 23 seconds left. The Roadrunners had a chance at the final possession, but Massal Diouf committed an offensive foul.

The Tigers were now in an all-familiar place. Three seconds left. A chance to beat the buzzer, just like Quinerly had done against SMU and Tulsa. The ball didn’t go to Quinerly, though. It went to Jourdain, who missed a prayer as regulation expired.

But the Alabama transfer wasn’t denied the ball in overtime, which ultimately paid dividends for Memphis. Quinerly started the extra period with a bang—a 4-point play after making a 3-pointer through contact. He then made a crucial turnaround jumper with 1:54 left, upping the Tigers’ lead to 104-99. All in all, the 6-foot-1 guard scored 9 of Memphis’ 13 overtime points and again came through when his team needed him most.

Quinerly finished the game with 25 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 7-of-15. Jones also had a productive outing with 26 points and 11 rebounds on an 8-for-18 clip. Jourdain had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Walton scored 13 points, and Dandridge finished with 10 points and 4 rebounds on his 23rd birthday.