Memphis faced SMU in a conference play showdown on Sunday, marking the last time they’ll host SMU for a while, as SMU is set to depart for the ACC next season.
The Mustangs, entering the game with a strong 10-4 record, held the second spot in the NET rankings in the American Athletic Conference, standing nine spots ahead of Memphis.
The game unfolded as a tale of two halves. Memphis began with a lack of urgency, energy, and attention to detail in the first half. However, the team underwent a remarkable transformation in the second half, exhibiting a significantly improved performance on both ends of the court.
Jahvon Quinerly emerged as a clutch player once again, delivering a pivotal step-back three-pointer that propelled Memphis to a two-point victory after trailing by 12 points at halftime.
Recap
It was a tale of two halves for the Tigers in their battle against the Mustangs on Sunday afternoon.
First Half
In the first half, Memphis displayed a lackluster performance, struggling in various aspects of the game. Shots weren’t finding the mark, rebounding was a challenge, and SMU’s effectiveness in the paint posed a significant obstacle.
The offensive approach, marked by isolation plays and a degree of selfishness, contributed to Memphis’ struggles. The rebounding battle heavily favored SMU, who dominated the boards with a 25-9 advantage. The Mustangs particularly excelled on the offensive glass, with 12 offensive rebounds.
Despite the sluggish and low-energy start, Memphis managed to find a bit of rhythm in the final five minutes of the half.
Nevertheless, they faced a daunting 12-point deficit heading into halftime.
Second Half
The Tigers exhibited a significant shift in energy coming out of the locker room after a lackluster first half. Initiating a 10-2 run before the first media timeout, Memphis quickly narrowed the deficit to just 4 points, leaving plenty of basketball to be played.
As the game progressed from this point onward, Memphis managed to take the lead, but it would be a back-and-forth battle. With 10 seconds to go, Memphis found find themselves tied and with the ball.
Quinerly showcased his leadership for the second time this week, delivering a three-pointer to secure Memphis’s victory. It was a shot that was eerily reminiscent to the game winner Quinerly hit just last week against Tulsa.
Other Key Storylines
David Jones continues to consistently lead all scorers even when not having even having his best shooting nights. Jones finished the game with 17 points, but he didn’t just make an impact scoring the basketball. Jones was able to pull down nine rebounds, along with four assists.
Jaykwon Walton seems to be slowly getting his confidence back from deep. He finished the day shooting 50% from deep, along with 10 points.
Free throws were a significant area of concern for Memphis in today’s game. While the Tigers successfully earned trips to the foul line, their struggles were evident in converting those opportunities. Memphis concluded the afternoon shooting 10 out of 19 from the charity stripe. That number needs to improve if the Tigers hope to continue to win close games down the stretch.
Thoughts from Penny
“These type of wins are more special to me, because nothing about it was perfect.”
