Memphis Standard

Despite a season-high 10 three pointers and a combined 51 points from seniors Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams, the Memphis Tigers dropped a 96-89 decision to Tulane in American Athletic Conference play Sunday evening in New Orleans.

Memphis led the game with seven minutes on the clock, but allowing 59 second-half points was too much to overcome as the Tigers fell to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in league action.

Davis stayed hot and produced a season-high 31 points with seven assists, six rebound and three steals in 38 minutes. He was 7-of-18 from the floor and the nation's leader in free throws finished 14-of-17 at the stripe.

Williams grabbed his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 boards, while also swiping three steals before fouling out with three minutes left in the game.

Elijah McCadden and Alex Lomax contributed eight points apiece and Jayden Hardaway added seven in his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games.

Tulane (8-5, 1-1 AAC) was led by Sion James' 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds on just 6-of-8 shooting. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from deep and 14-of-15 at the free throw line.

After Davis converted on a pullup jumper to put Memphis in front 65-63 with eight minutes left to play, the Green Wave poured in 33 points in the final 7:41 and sealed the game down the stretch at the free throw line.

Memphis shot 42.6 percent (29-68) on the night and made a season-high 10-of-23 from long distance (43.5%). They also drained 21-of-30 at the free throw line (70.0%).

UP NEXT

Memphis returns home Saturday to host East Carolina at 4 p.m. before going back on the road to UCF (Jan. 11) and Temple (Jan. 15).

POSTGAME NOTES

• Memphis used the starting lineup of Kendric Davis, Alex Lomax, DeAndre Williams, Chandler Lawson and Jayden Hardaway. 
  • The Tigers are 8-3 this season with that lineup.
• The Tigers are now 35-4 against Tulane since 2000-01, despite dropping two of the last three.
• The Tigers have now scored 80+ points in seven-straight games for the first time since doing so in seven consecutive from Dec. 4, 2018 to Jan. 3, 2019.
• Memphis outscored Tulane 34-30 in the paint and 23-12 in fast break points.
• The Tigers dished 17 assists to 14 turnovers, and forced 17 turnovers forced on defense.
• Memphis recorded 11 steals, giving them double-digit thefts in five of the last seven games, and blocked seven shots.
• Damaria Franklin and Keonte Kennedy each added six points off the bench.
• Williams grabbed the 500th rebound of his career in the game. 

Original source can be found here