Monday, December 30
Memphis, Tenn.
8 P.M.
Tulane University
8-5,0-1AAC
73
at
84
Memphis
12-1,1-0AAC
1
2
F
Tulane
30
43
73
Memphis
40
44
84
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Men’s Basketball’s Upset Bid Falls Short at No. 9 Memphis
Dec 30, 2019 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS – The Tulane men's basketball team trailed by just three in the final minutes but came up short late in an 84-73 road setback at No. 9 Memphis to open American Athletic Conference play at FedEx Forum.
In his hometown return, K.J. Lawson scored a game-high 22 points to go with five rebounds, while Christion Thompson added 17 points, five boards and four assists. Jordan Walker led Tulane's (8-5, 0-1 AAC) late rally by scoring all 13 of his points in the final 10 minutes of the second half.
Lester Quinones led five Memphis (12-1, 1-0 AAC) scorers in double-figures with 16 points and made four treys, while Precious Achiuwa compiled a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Damion Baugh added 15 points and six assists, as D.J. Jeffries also had 14 points to go with seven rebounds and a game-high eight helpers.
The Green Wave got off to an extremely hot start shooting the ball, making five of their first six shots including a trio of 3-pointers, to build a 13-4 lead and force the Tigers to burn a timeout at the 16:19 mark.
The Wave pushed the margin to 11 on a basket by Lawson, but Memphis roared back with a 12-2 scoring run highlighted by a trio of Quinones 3s to pull within one, 17-16, forcing head coach Ron Hunter to call timeout with 11:30 to go in the first half.
After two ties at 19 and 21, respectively, five consecutive points gave Tulane a five-point edge, 26-21, with seven minutes left. Memphis clamped down on defense and used downhill running in transition to score 17 of the final 19 points of the half, and close the period on a 13-0 scoring run, as the Green Wave went scoreless over the final 4:50.
Trailing 40-30 at halftime, Tulane shot 12-for-35 (.343) overall as both sides went 4-for-14 (.286) beyond the 3-point line, while Memphis went 17-for-35 (.486) from the floor and owned a 24-14 scoring advantage in the paint.
The Tigers extended their lead to 14 on a pair of Achiuwa dunks on their first two possessions of the second half, but the Green Wave chipped away to pull within seven on two occasions, the second on a Thompson jumper with 10:53 left to make it 60-53.
Memphis pushed the margin back to double digits, 69-57, with 7:50 remaining, but Tulane punched back with seven straight points in just two minutes time, capped by a Lawson free throw, to pull within five.
The Green Wave drew as close as three, 74-71, on five straight points by Walker with 3:35 left, before the Tigers ended the run with a three-point play. Walker hit back one more time with a mid-range jumper at the 2:34 mark to make it 77-73.
Tulane couldn't get any closer as the late shots wouldn't go down. Memphis used those missed opportunities to close the game on 7-0 run while holding Wave scoreless over the final 2:34.
The Green Wave shot 48 percent in the second half to finish the night 25-for-62 (.403) from the field, while going 8-for-25 (.320) beyond the arc and 15-for-18 (.833) at the foul line. The Tigers shot 34-for-63 (.540) on the night and 9-for-26 (.346) from outside while going 7-for-15 (.467) at the foul stripe.
Memphis owned a 46-26 scoring advantage in the paint and a 37-19 margin off the bench, but the Green Wave outscored the Tigers, 14-8, off turnovers.
Tulane returns home to begin the New Year against Cincinnati on January 4. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m., at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
In his hometown return, K.J. Lawson scored a game-high 22 points to go with five rebounds, while Christion Thompson added 17 points, five boards and four assists. Jordan Walker led Tulane's (8-5, 0-1 AAC) late rally by scoring all 13 of his points in the final 10 minutes of the second half.
Lester Quinones led five Memphis (12-1, 1-0 AAC) scorers in double-figures with 16 points and made four treys, while Precious Achiuwa compiled a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Damion Baugh added 15 points and six assists, as D.J. Jeffries also had 14 points to go with seven rebounds and a game-high eight helpers.
The Green Wave got off to an extremely hot start shooting the ball, making five of their first six shots including a trio of 3-pointers, to build a 13-4 lead and force the Tigers to burn a timeout at the 16:19 mark.
The Wave pushed the margin to 11 on a basket by Lawson, but Memphis roared back with a 12-2 scoring run highlighted by a trio of Quinones 3s to pull within one, 17-16, forcing head coach Ron Hunter to call timeout with 11:30 to go in the first half.
After two ties at 19 and 21, respectively, five consecutive points gave Tulane a five-point edge, 26-21, with seven minutes left. Memphis clamped down on defense and used downhill running in transition to score 17 of the final 19 points of the half, and close the period on a 13-0 scoring run, as the Green Wave went scoreless over the final 4:50.
Trailing 40-30 at halftime, Tulane shot 12-for-35 (.343) overall as both sides went 4-for-14 (.286) beyond the 3-point line, while Memphis went 17-for-35 (.486) from the floor and owned a 24-14 scoring advantage in the paint.
The Tigers extended their lead to 14 on a pair of Achiuwa dunks on their first two possessions of the second half, but the Green Wave chipped away to pull within seven on two occasions, the second on a Thompson jumper with 10:53 left to make it 60-53.
Memphis pushed the margin back to double digits, 69-57, with 7:50 remaining, but Tulane punched back with seven straight points in just two minutes time, capped by a Lawson free throw, to pull within five.
The Green Wave drew as close as three, 74-71, on five straight points by Walker with 3:35 left, before the Tigers ended the run with a three-point play. Walker hit back one more time with a mid-range jumper at the 2:34 mark to make it 77-73.
Tulane couldn't get any closer as the late shots wouldn't go down. Memphis used those missed opportunities to close the game on 7-0 run while holding Wave scoreless over the final 2:34.
The Green Wave shot 48 percent in the second half to finish the night 25-for-62 (.403) from the field, while going 8-for-25 (.320) beyond the arc and 15-for-18 (.833) at the foul line. The Tigers shot 34-for-63 (.540) on the night and 9-for-26 (.346) from outside while going 7-for-15 (.467) at the foul stripe.
Memphis owned a 46-26 scoring advantage in the paint and a 37-19 margin off the bench, but the Green Wave outscored the Tigers, 14-8, off turnovers.
Tulane returns home to begin the New Year against Cincinnati on January 4. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m., at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
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WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com
Team Stats
Tulane
Mem
FG%
.403
.540
3FG%
.320
.346
FT%
.833
.467
RB
29
41
TO
10
12
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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