The Memphis Tigers delivered their most complete performance of the season, pulling away from the Ohio Bobcats for a 94-70 win at FedExForum on Friday, November 15.
With the victory, Memphis improved to 3-0 and showcased a balanced attack that overwhelmed the preseason favorites to win the Mid-American Conference.
Unlike the Tigers’ previous games, where slow starts were an issue, Memphis jumped out to an 18-4 lead early in the first half. Guard PJ Haggerty, who had been a second-half standout in earlier contests, was on fire from the start. He scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, including four three-pointers.
Reflecting on the team’s strong start, head coach Penny Hardaway said, “It is very different, because you have a new team. You haven’t been in a real battle with them yet. Tonight we were up 18-4, and I said, let’s bury them. They made a run. It takes everybody to do the right thing on the floor for that to work.”
Ohio clawed back behind the shooting of A’Jay Sheldon and Elmore James, who combined for seven three-pointers in the first half. The Bobcats cut Memphis’ lead to three, but the Tigers finished the half up 43-38. Haggerty led all scorers at halftime with 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while Nicholas Jourdain added 10 points and four rebounds.
Memphis made a statement early in the second half, forcing four turnovers in the opening three minutes and using a 10-2 run to seize control of the game. The Tigers’ defensive pressure and efficient shooting, including a blistering 13-of-18 (72.2%) from three-point range, proved too much for the Bobcats.
“Tonight we just came out and let it fly,” Tyresse Hunter said of the team’s offensive rhythm. “We have to stay in rhythm. Me and PJ have been out of practice. We just have to stay confident.”
Ohio head coach Jeff Boals pointed to turnovers as a key factor in the game. “We weren’t able to do the simple things. We had those four turnovers, and they turned into points quick. We give them credit. We got away from what we wanted to do.”
The Bobcats (1-3) were led by Sheldon with 20 points and AJ Brown with 19, but they struggled with Memphis’ defensive intensity, committing 16 turnovers and being outrebounded 35-22. Ohio shot 36.9% from the field and from three-point range.
For Memphis, Haggerty added seven rebounds to his 23-point performance. Hunter had 21 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while Jourdain contributed 15 points and six boards. Moussa Cisse continued his improved free-throw shooting, hitting 5-of-6 from the line and scoring nine points.
“We just slowed down and weren’t lackadaisical,” Haggerty said of the Tigers’ improved ball security in the second half. “We were finding good shots and passes. We just made fewer mistakes.”
Next up for the Tigers is a four-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the San Francisco Dons on Thursday, November 21. Memphis will then travel to Maui to play three games from November 24-26, including a showdown with the defending national champion UConn Huskies. The Tigers return to FedExForum on December 4 to face Louisiana Tech.
