The Memphis Tigers basketball team, standing at 15-2 (4-0 American), delighted fans with a decisive 112-86 victory over Wichita State. This season, the Tigers have both thrilled and unnerved their supporters, often relying on Jahvon Quinerly’s last-second three-pointers to clinch wins.
Ranked 13th, the Tigers faced the Wichita State Shockers in Kansas, in what was a homecoming for Jaykwon Walton, a former leading scorer for the Shockers. Wichita State, struggling with a four-game losing streak, found themselves in a fast-paced game from the outset. Both teams pushed the tempo, with the first stoppage not coming until eight minutes into the game.
Wichita State initially shot nearly 80 percent in the first half but finished at 60 percent, making 6 of 10 three-pointers. Walton, aggressive on offense, scored 11 points in the first half, including hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. His early performance helped the Tigers to a six-point lead after a Nick Jourdain alley-oop dunk, though Wichita State closed the gap to three points (49-46) at halftime.
Second-half adjustments continued to be successful for the Tigers. Colby Rodgers tied the game with a three-pointer, but David Jones took charge, scoring 11 points in three minutes as part of a 20-7 run, putting the Tigers ahead 69-56. The Tigers maintained their momentum, leading by as much as 27 points (98-71) and ultimately avoiding their previous pattern of relinquishing double-digit leads.
Wichita State’s Rodgers led his team with 20 points, including 4 of 7 from three-point range. Beverly Harlon and Ridgnal Dalen contributed 17 and 15 points, respectively.
The Tigers had six players scoring in double digits: Walton and Quinerly with 23 points each, Jones with 19, Nae’Qwan Tomlin with 14 off the bench, Jourdain with 12, and Malcolm Dandridge with 10. The team shot an impressive 64 percent from the field, their best this season, and made 19 three-pointers. Coach Hardaway’s desire for at least 20 assists per game was surpassed as the team recorded 25, with Quinerly contributing 11.
This win marked the Tigers’ tenth consecutive victory, a streak not seen since Hardaway’s second season in 2019-20, when the team was ranked as high as 9th nationally. The team hopes to surpass this mark in the upcoming Associated Press poll.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will host South Florida on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The game, which will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2, has been dubbed the “Sixth Mane Game.” The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a mystery gift.
, delighted fans with a decisive 112-86 victory over Wichita State.){kind=link}