02-12-2018, 06:30 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. â Kyvon Davenport scored a career-high 23 points and added a team-high eight rebounds, but his efforts weren't enough Sunday for the University of Memphis.
UCF got 22 points from B.J. Taylor and 20 from A.J. Davis to lead the Knights to a 68-64 American Athletic Conference victory over the Tigers at FedExForum. Memphis (14-11, 5-7 American) dropped its third straight game.
UCF improved to 15-9 overall and 6-6 in league play.
The Tigers finished with 14 assists, eight steals, three blocks and 27 rebounds â one fewer than UCF â and made 17 of 19 free throws. But they were undone by allowing the Knights to shoot 56 percent in the first half and 52.9 percent for the game. UCF scored 42 points in the paint and made key 3-pointers down the stretch.
"It was a disappointing loss," Tiger coach Tubby Smith said. "I'm disappointed in our defense and how we defended the 3-point shot. Once again, the 3-point shot did us in.
"But Kyvon had a good effort, Jeremiah (Martin) played well and David Nickelberry came in and did a good job for us. Victor (Enoh) did a good job. We just didn't get the scoring out of the guard spot. That's where we had trouble."
Starting guard Jamal Johnson was held scoreless in 23 minutes and reserve guard Kareem Brewton, who had 12 points against Wichita State last week, was liited to two points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Martin, the league's leading scorer at 19.3 points per game contributed 17 points, four assists and three steals. Mike Parks Jr., added 10 points and five rebounds. The Tigers' bench, which scored 40 points in last week's loss to nationally ranked Wichita State, was held to 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Earlier this season, the Tigers dropped a 65-56 decision at UCF. The Knights' 7-foot-6 center, Tacko Fall, had several key dunks in the closing minutes of the Knights' victory in Orlando, but did not play Sunday. He is out the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
Memphis had its moments in the second half. The Tigers led briefly (37-36 and 41-40) early in the half and were tied at 50 with 10:21 to go after two free throws by Victor Enoh.
UCF gradually pulled away at that point. The Knights led by eight (64-56) with three minutes left on a 3-pointer by Davis. The Tigers made one last run and trimmed the UCF lead to two (66-64) with 16.6 seconds to go on a corner 3-pointer from Jimario Rivers. The Knights' Taylor sealed the UCF win with two free throws a second later.
The TIgers have six regular-season games remaining -- three on the road, three at home - and Davenport said the Tigers can close the season strong if they "share the ball more." Smith said if the Tigers had dished out two more assists "we probably would have won the game."
At thehalf, Memphis trailed, 32-30, after spending most of the opening 20 minutes with the lead. The Tigers led by five points on several occasions, the last coming at 24-19 on a Nickelberry layup off an alley-oop pass from Jimario Rivers.
Davenport had 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Martin had seven points in the opening half.
The Tigers shot 42 percent and were outrebounded, 16-11, in the first half, but forced nine turnovers. A layup at the buzzer by UCF's Rokas Ulvydas gave the Knights the lead at the break.
After back-to-back league home games, the Tigers go on the road for games Wednesday at SMU and Sunday at Tulane. After the two-game road trip, the Tigers will play three of their four remaining games at home.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/2/11/men...nport.aspx
UCF got 22 points from B.J. Taylor and 20 from A.J. Davis to lead the Knights to a 68-64 American Athletic Conference victory over the Tigers at FedExForum. Memphis (14-11, 5-7 American) dropped its third straight game.
UCF improved to 15-9 overall and 6-6 in league play.
The Tigers finished with 14 assists, eight steals, three blocks and 27 rebounds â one fewer than UCF â and made 17 of 19 free throws. But they were undone by allowing the Knights to shoot 56 percent in the first half and 52.9 percent for the game. UCF scored 42 points in the paint and made key 3-pointers down the stretch.
"It was a disappointing loss," Tiger coach Tubby Smith said. "I'm disappointed in our defense and how we defended the 3-point shot. Once again, the 3-point shot did us in.
"But Kyvon had a good effort, Jeremiah (Martin) played well and David Nickelberry came in and did a good job for us. Victor (Enoh) did a good job. We just didn't get the scoring out of the guard spot. That's where we had trouble."
Starting guard Jamal Johnson was held scoreless in 23 minutes and reserve guard Kareem Brewton, who had 12 points against Wichita State last week, was liited to two points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Martin, the league's leading scorer at 19.3 points per game contributed 17 points, four assists and three steals. Mike Parks Jr., added 10 points and five rebounds. The Tigers' bench, which scored 40 points in last week's loss to nationally ranked Wichita State, was held to 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Earlier this season, the Tigers dropped a 65-56 decision at UCF. The Knights' 7-foot-6 center, Tacko Fall, had several key dunks in the closing minutes of the Knights' victory in Orlando, but did not play Sunday. He is out the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
Memphis had its moments in the second half. The Tigers led briefly (37-36 and 41-40) early in the half and were tied at 50 with 10:21 to go after two free throws by Victor Enoh.
UCF gradually pulled away at that point. The Knights led by eight (64-56) with three minutes left on a 3-pointer by Davis. The Tigers made one last run and trimmed the UCF lead to two (66-64) with 16.6 seconds to go on a corner 3-pointer from Jimario Rivers. The Knights' Taylor sealed the UCF win with two free throws a second later.
The TIgers have six regular-season games remaining -- three on the road, three at home - and Davenport said the Tigers can close the season strong if they "share the ball more." Smith said if the Tigers had dished out two more assists "we probably would have won the game."
At thehalf, Memphis trailed, 32-30, after spending most of the opening 20 minutes with the lead. The Tigers led by five points on several occasions, the last coming at 24-19 on a Nickelberry layup off an alley-oop pass from Jimario Rivers.
Davenport had 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Martin had seven points in the opening half.
The Tigers shot 42 percent and were outrebounded, 16-11, in the first half, but forced nine turnovers. A layup at the buzzer by UCF's Rokas Ulvydas gave the Knights the lead at the break.
After back-to-back league home games, the Tigers go on the road for games Wednesday at SMU and Sunday at Tulane. After the two-game road trip, the Tigers will play three of their four remaining games at home.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/2/11/men...nport.aspx