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02-23-2018, 11:45 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. â So much for the odds being stacked against them.
Jimario Rivers and Raynere Thornton each scored career highs and the University of Memphis overcame the loss of Jeremiah Martin, the American Athletic Conference's leading scorer, to post the biggest win in Tubby Smith's two years as Tigers' coach.
Rivers and Thornton scored 21 points apiece and the Tigers knocked off No. 23 Houston, 91-85, Thursday night at FedExForum. It was the U of M's first win over a Top 25 team in five tries this season and Smith's second at Memphis. The Tigers (17-11, 8-7 American) defeated No. 25 South Carolina last season.
In winning their third straight, the Tigers also got 13 points from Kyvon Davenport and a team-high nine rebounds from Rivers. The Tigers shot 60.9 percent in the second half to erase a six-point halftime deficit.
With Martin felled by an ankle injury late in the first half, Kareem Brewton Jr., filled in and played 29 minutes. He finished with team-high five assists and two steals.
"We had an outstanding effort," Smith said. "It was the most complete game we've had all year long. We beat a very good Houston team."
Houston (21-6, 11-4 American) was led by conference player-of-the-year candidate Rob Gray, who finished with a game-high 30 points.
The Tigers, who trailed by 13 in the first half, fell behind by eight in the second half after a four-point play by Corey Davis Jr., who finished with 15 points. Davis drained a 3-pointer fro the right wing and was fouled by Davenport on the play. His free throw made it 54-46.
But Memphis refused to fold. The Tigers chipped away at the lead, mostly behind the play of Thornton and Rivers. Thornton scored 16 of his points in the second half and made three 3-pointers. Rivers scored 12 after halftime.
Trailing 66-65 with nine minutes left, the Tigers got a 3-pointer from Thornton, a 3-pointer from reserve guard Malik Rhodes, three free throws from Thornton and short jump hook in the lane by Mike Parks Jr., to go up, 76-68.
Memphis never trailed again. Rhodes (4-4) and Thornton (2-2) made six straight free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory.
"It feels good to beat a Top 25 team," Rivers said. "I just gave my all. When (Martin) went down, the team came together."
Without Martin, the Tigers rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit.
Memphis trailed, 43-37, at the half as Houston connected on 58 percent of its shots and made 7 of 14 3-pointers.
Martin left with the ankle injury with 5:16 to go and retreated to the locker room. He did not return and left the locker room after the game in a boot.
The Tigers shot 48 percent in the first half, made 7-of-10 free throws and 6-of-11 3-pointers, but couldn't overcome Houston's torrid shooting.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was whistled for a technical after the half ended â and after Rivers dropped in a layup before the buzzer. The technical free throws were taken before the start of the second half by Rivers, who made them both.
The Tigers resume conference play Sunday at UConn, the U of M's final regular-season league road game. Memphis defeated UConn, 73-49, earlier this season at FedExForum. Sunday's game will be carried by ESPN and tip off at 3 p.m.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/2/22/men...91-85.aspx
Jimario Rivers and Raynere Thornton each scored career highs and the University of Memphis overcame the loss of Jeremiah Martin, the American Athletic Conference's leading scorer, to post the biggest win in Tubby Smith's two years as Tigers' coach.
Rivers and Thornton scored 21 points apiece and the Tigers knocked off No. 23 Houston, 91-85, Thursday night at FedExForum. It was the U of M's first win over a Top 25 team in five tries this season and Smith's second at Memphis. The Tigers (17-11, 8-7 American) defeated No. 25 South Carolina last season.
In winning their third straight, the Tigers also got 13 points from Kyvon Davenport and a team-high nine rebounds from Rivers. The Tigers shot 60.9 percent in the second half to erase a six-point halftime deficit.
With Martin felled by an ankle injury late in the first half, Kareem Brewton Jr., filled in and played 29 minutes. He finished with team-high five assists and two steals.
"We had an outstanding effort," Smith said. "It was the most complete game we've had all year long. We beat a very good Houston team."
Houston (21-6, 11-4 American) was led by conference player-of-the-year candidate Rob Gray, who finished with a game-high 30 points.
The Tigers, who trailed by 13 in the first half, fell behind by eight in the second half after a four-point play by Corey Davis Jr., who finished with 15 points. Davis drained a 3-pointer fro the right wing and was fouled by Davenport on the play. His free throw made it 54-46.
But Memphis refused to fold. The Tigers chipped away at the lead, mostly behind the play of Thornton and Rivers. Thornton scored 16 of his points in the second half and made three 3-pointers. Rivers scored 12 after halftime.
Trailing 66-65 with nine minutes left, the Tigers got a 3-pointer from Thornton, a 3-pointer from reserve guard Malik Rhodes, three free throws from Thornton and short jump hook in the lane by Mike Parks Jr., to go up, 76-68.
Memphis never trailed again. Rhodes (4-4) and Thornton (2-2) made six straight free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory.
"It feels good to beat a Top 25 team," Rivers said. "I just gave my all. When (Martin) went down, the team came together."
Without Martin, the Tigers rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit.
Memphis trailed, 43-37, at the half as Houston connected on 58 percent of its shots and made 7 of 14 3-pointers.
Martin left with the ankle injury with 5:16 to go and retreated to the locker room. He did not return and left the locker room after the game in a boot.
The Tigers shot 48 percent in the first half, made 7-of-10 free throws and 6-of-11 3-pointers, but couldn't overcome Houston's torrid shooting.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was whistled for a technical after the half ended â and after Rivers dropped in a layup before the buzzer. The technical free throws were taken before the start of the second half by Rivers, who made them both.
The Tigers resume conference play Sunday at UConn, the U of M's final regular-season league road game. Memphis defeated UConn, 73-49, earlier this season at FedExForum. Sunday's game will be carried by ESPN and tip off at 3 p.m.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/2/22/men...91-85.aspx
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