The Memphis Tigers basketball team (3-4) lost to the No. 20 Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-0) in Miami, Florida, at the HoopHall Miami Invitational by a score of 78-67. The Tigers started strong and possessed a nine-point lead going into halftime, but the Red Raiders stormed back late in the second half to steal the win from Memphis.
Missed shots
The Tigers struggled most of the game to find the basket consistently against Texas Tech, connecting on 23-66 field goals for 35 percent. Memphis struggled down the stretch, hitting just four of their last 20 attempted shots, giving the Red Raiders a chance to rally back and knock down 13 of their last 20 attempted shots.
Memphis could not make anything beyond the arc outside of freshman guard Tyler Harris, who knocked down the only made three-pointers for the Tigers. Harris finished with a team-high 17 points but shot 6-14 from the field and 3-8 from deep, as Memphis collectively finished 3-15 from downtown.
Point guard Jeremiah Martin had a rough game, totaling seven points, while shooting 2-12 from the field and 0-5 from the three-point line.
Free throws
The Tigers have had a roller-coaster season when it comes to their consistency of hitting shots from the charity-stripe, and it was up and down yet again in Miami. In the first half, Memphis connected on 10-11 free throws for 91 percent but shot 8-17 for 47 percent in the second half.
Kyvon Davenport leads the Tigers with 38 attempted free throws on the season, showing how good he is at getting to the basket and drawing fouls. However, Davenport struggled from the line against Texas Tech, connecting on 3-9 attempts.
Texas Tech star players
Texas Tech may have rallied late against Memphis, but they never let the Tigers run away with the game, in large part due to guard Tariq Owens. Owens blocked eight shots for the Red Raiders and left the game with a double-double; 11 rebounds and 13 points on 5-6 shooting from the field.
Guard Jarrett Culver led all players in the game with 20 points on 6-15 from the field. Culver did a little of everything for Texas Tech, grabbing six boards, six assists and a couple of both steals and blocks.
Rebounding
Since the Oklahoma State game in which head coach Penny Hardaway stated afterwards there would be adjustments to the starting lineup, the Tigers have improved on the boards.
Memphis won the rebounding margin against Canisius and Charleston but lost it against Texas Tech, 33-31. The Tigers did not have their best game but were able to keep it close, proving their potential.
Looking ahead
The Tigers have been on the road for the majority of their games this season, traveling to Orlando and Miami, Florida, for invitationals and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to play Louisiana State University. Memphis will get the opportunity to work on their issues at home before conference play, as the program’s next seven games will be played at FedEx Forum.
The Tigers will open up the stretch of home games against South Dakota Sate (7-2) at 7 p.m. Dec. 4, which will be Memphis’ first home game in over two weeks. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Later, Memphis will play some tough competition, including a highly anticipated game against the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (6-1) at 11 a.m. Dec. 14 on ESPN2.
Freshman guard Tyler Harris drives on Texas Tech defenders. Harris was the only Tiger with three-pointers made against the Red Raiders in Miami, Florida.
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 1: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Memphis Tigers (Photo by Eric Espada/Memphis Athletics)
