Tigers Run off Lions

Less than 2 weeks after the University of North Alabama football team came to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for a buy-game with the Tigers, the basketball team did the same at FedEx Forum. UNA will once again head back to Florence, Alabama with a definitive defeat. The paycheck received by UNA might slightly lessen the sting from the basketball Tigers 87-68 victory over the Lions.

With the early season schedule this year heavy on away and neutral site games, this was only the second home game of the season. The Tigers did not disappoint, leading the game from start to finish. Coach Penny Hardaway stuck with the starting lineup that he has used for the previous four games of Kendrick Davis, Alex Lomax, Jayden Hardaway, Deandre Williams, and Chandler Lawson. That group jumped out to a 9-5 lead during the first 4 minutes and the Tigers never looked back.

According to KenPom the Tigers entered the game with the #15 rated defense. That smothering D, along with Coach Hardaway’s staple full-court pressure, forced 8 turnovers and only 38% shooting from the Lions during the first half. By halftime the Tigers had built an 18-point cushion.

For the second half, the Tigers pulled back on the press and slowed the game down. Davis only played 6 minutes in the second half, and Williams 7 minutes. Lomax also played sparingly, and the final 12 minutes of the game were played using point guard by committee of Hardaway, Keonte Kennedy, and Jonathan Lawson. With 11 minutes left in the game, all 10 rotation players for the Tigers had scored.

The Tigers had 21 assists on 33 made baskets, while shooting 55%. It was the best deep shooting night of the season for Memphis as they shot 47% on 3-point attempts. Lomax continued his steady play of late with 4 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals. Reigning AAC Player of the Week Davis led the Tigers with 18 efficient points in just 20 minutes. Williams, Kennedy, and Jonathan Lawson also scored in double figures for the Tigers. UNA was led by their season leader, Daniel Ortiz, with 16 points. But the Memphis D largely shut down the rest of the UNA offense.

In addition to the good minutes provided off the bench by redshirt freshman Jonathan Lawson, it was a coming out party for Tigers transfer Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu. He played 21 effective minutes – with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 blocks. During one 15-second stretch, Kao had a tough offensive rebound and putback, and then shutdown UNA with a big block inside. On another play while running a fast break, Kao took a high lob from Lomax for a dunk that not many players on the planet could have completed. Lomax said in the post-game interview, “Kao has the highest vertical in all of college basketball”.

Coach Hardaway said after the game that he was happy the guys avoided a “trap game” sandwiched in between the Holiday tournament last week and the rivalry game this coming weekend. He said Malcolm Dandridge only played 5 minutes to give him an easy night due to the challenges with his knees. Coach said he was most proud of the “21 assists and the rebounding advantage (+9)” the Tigers accomplished.

Lomax moved into 10^th place in career assists for the Tigers during the second half.

The Tigers return to action with a big regional rivalry game against Ole Miss at FedEx Forum on Saturday evening – with Memphis looking to avenge the loss at Oxford last year.

ESPN Star of the Game – Alex Lomax