Memphis Tigers Claw Their Way Back for a 70-55 Road Victory Over Missouri
Demonstrating an impressive comeback, the Memphis Tigers overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to triumph over the Missouri Tigers, securing a 70-55 victory on Friday night. The highly anticipated match in Columbia, Missouri, saw Memphis evolve from a shaky first-half to a commanding second-half performance. The triumph marked Memphis’ first in Columbia since January 21, 1993.
The game started rough for the Memphis Tigers, who trailed behind Missouri 29-15 with less than seven minutes to go in the first half. But the visiting Tigers regrouped and found their stride, outscoring the home team 55-26 from that point forward.
Memphis’ senior point guard, Jahvon Quinerly, proved instrumental in the team’s success. Building on the experience of his collegiate career, Quinerly led the Tigers with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. His control over the offense and crucial baskets turned the tide for Memphis when it mattered most. The eight rebounds is a career-high for Quinerly.
David Jones, securing his first double-double as a Tiger, contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jaykwon Walton and Jordan Brown also played vital roles, with Walton sinking three triples on his way to 13 points and Brown adding 12 points and five boards off the bench.
Despite trailing 33-26 at halftime, the Memphis Tigers roared back after the break. A 10-0 run over four minutes gave them a 10-point lead with 12:30 still on the clock. Their patented defense then took over, holding Missouri to a paltry 19.2% from the floor in the second half. Conversely, Memphis shot an impressive 51.6% in the second half, outscoring Missouri 44-22.
The consistency of Memphis’ starting lineup, with Quinerly, Walton, Jones, Nick Jourdain, and Malcolm Dandridge starting for the second straight game. The team overall shot 43.5% in the match and 36.8% from deep.
As mentioned above, Quinerly grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and shot an impressive 7-10 from the floor. Caleb Mills contributed eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and a stellar defensive performance off the bench. Tasked with guarding Missouri’s Sean East II, who scored 14 points in the first half, Mills stopped him from even attempting a field goal in the final 20 minutes.
Memphis’ defense was a game-changer, holding Missouri to a mere 32.1% shooting overall and allowing only four Missouri Tigers to make field goals in the second half. Memphis outscored Missouri 38-20 in the paint, 12-0 on second-chance points, and 23-17 off the bench.
Looking ahead, Memphis will take a short break before returning to the court on Friday, November 17, to face Alabama State. This game will be the last of head coach Penny Hardaway‘s suspension and the team’s final outing before heading to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis.
