Tigers fall to St. Louis 90-84

Head Coach Penny Hardaway wanted to test his senior laden team early this season and he got exactly that in a road loss to the St. Louis Billikens at Chaifetz Arena before a rowdy crowd of 7,925 by the score of 90-84.  In a matchup that featured two of the top point guards in the country, Yuri Collins was as good as advertised leading the Billikens with 22 points and dishing out 9 assists while Kendric Davis of the Tigers had 18 points, but the ankle injury that has been bothering him in preseason practices continues to be a problem. 

Early in the game though, Gibson Jimerson of St. Louis was the one causing the most problems for the Tigers as he dropped in two quick threes to put St. Louis ahead 6-3, a lead they would never relinquish again.  Coach Hardaway had stressed in practice leading up to the game to stay focused on Jimerson who scored 12 of his 18 in the first half.  The Tigers fell behind by 12 in the first half when Johnathan Lawson was inserted for the first time this season and he made an immediate impact.  Lawson dropped in a quick jumper and then followed up a few minutes later with back to back threes to get Memphis within 3. The Tigers lost track of Javon Pickett and gave up an easy layup off a missed three pointer just as the first half buzzer sounded to give St. Louis a 47-43 lead at the half.   

The second half started strong for Memphis as Malcom Dandridge scored twice in the first 2:10 of the half to pull the Tigers within 2 at 49-47 but then the game turned quickly as St. Louis scored the next 7.  Memphis went nearly five minutes in the second half without hitting a bucket and a 57-54 game ballooned to 70-56 with the Tigers only hitting two free throws in that stretch.  With 7:20 left in the game, Memphis trailed 77-62 when senior Deandre Williams went to work hitting a tough fade away jumper and a couple of free throws as the Tigers began to claw their way back into the game. 

The Tigers held St. Louis without a made basket for the final 7:35 of the game but the Billikens hit thirteen free throws down the stretch to maintain their lead.  Coach Hardaway dialed up the pressure on the Billikens late in the game and with 0:42 left in the game Memphis was within 2.  Fred Thatch Jr. of St. Louis went to the line and split a pair of free throws giving Memphis a shot to tie the game but Jayden Hardaway’s shot missed.  Williams got the rebound but Davis was unable to finish a layup attempt to cut it to one and Memphis was forced to foul.  Unfortunately the ball was in the hands of the most dependable Billiken, Collins, who made both free throws to seal the win.  Collins ended 12-14 from the line on the game. 

On the night, the Tigers were again led by Deandre Williams who recorded a double double on the night with 21 points and 12 rebounds.  Keonte Kennedy chipped in with 10.  Three point shooting got the Tigers back into the game in the first half, but on the night Memphis ended up 9-31 for 29%.  The Tigers won the rebounding battle 39-38 which included 15 offensive boards and both teams did a good job protecting the ball as Memphis only had 10 turnovers while St. Louis had 11. 

St. Louis improved to 3-0 on the season while the Tigers are now even at 1-1 with VCU up next this Sunday at FedEx Forum at 4:00.