03-05-2018, 10:05 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- On Senior Day, it was a trio of juniors who carried the University of Memphis to a season-ending victory.
Kareem Brewton Jr., scored a career-high 22 points, Mike Parks Jr., added 20 and Kyvon Davenport contributed 17 in a 90-70 American Athletic Conference victory Sunday at FedExForum over ECU.
Memphis (19-12, 10-8 American) secured the No. 5 seed in next week's AAC Championship in Orlando with the victory and will meet USF in an opening-round game Thursday. The Tigers will enter the postseason tournament having won five of their last six games.
Jimario Rivers and Alex Moffatt were honored before tipoff in ceremonies at mid-court, then the Tigers began atoning for an overtime loss at ECU on Feb. 3. Memphis shot 53 percent and outrebounded the Pirates, 43-24. The Tigers finished with 14 offensive rebounds and Parks finished with eight rebounds to lead the team.
"We did the right things today," Tiger coach Tubby Smith said. "We played the right way. The key was our defensive effort from the beginning."
The Tigers held ECU (10-19, 4-14 American) to 35.7 percent shooting in the first half, forced six turnovers and enjoyed 12-rebound advantage.
ECU shot considerably better in the second half (58 percent),but was unable to connect from long range like it did in an 88-85 upset win last month. The Pirates made 11 3-pointers in that game.
Brewton, starting at point guard in place of injured Jeremiah Martin, made 10 of 15 shots after going 1-of-10 in last week's loss to USF. He also led the team with seven assists. Brewton knifed his way through traffic multiple times and freed himself for layups and short bank shots.
"He's a scorer," Smith said. "He has a scorer's mentality. He really ran the team the right way, but the most important thing was his defense."
Shawn Williams, who scored a career-high 30 against the Tigers at ECU, led the Pirates with 17 points, but was only 1-of-5 from long range. He made six 3-pointers in Greenville, N.C.
The Tigers, who held a 15-point halftime advantage, did not allow the Pirates to make a serious run in the second half. Memphis built its lead to 32 points midway through the half followiong a Victor Enoh basket in the paint.
Parks closed strong with a 3-pointer and a breakaway reverse dunk in the closing minutes.
"We owed them (from the loss at ECU)," Parks said. "So we came out and played harder."
Memphis led, 45-30, at the half after shooting 55.2 percent (16-of-29) and dominating on the glass. The Tigers outrebounded the Pirates, 22-10.
The Tigers trailed by five points early in the first half but gradually pulled away behind the play of Brewton, Davenport and Parks. Brewton had 15 points at half and Davenport had 14 with five rebounds. Parks scored nine points in the opening 20 minutes.
Trailing by two (25-23) with eight minutes left in the first half, the Tigers put together a 22-5 run to close the half. Brewton scored nine points during the run, including seven of the last eight.
Memphis also benefited from a strong presence in the paint, where it outscored ECU, 26-10, to build the halftime advantage.
ECU was limited to 35.7 percent shooting in the opening half, but got 11 points from Williams.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/3/4/mens...90-70.aspx
Kareem Brewton Jr., scored a career-high 22 points, Mike Parks Jr., added 20 and Kyvon Davenport contributed 17 in a 90-70 American Athletic Conference victory Sunday at FedExForum over ECU.
Memphis (19-12, 10-8 American) secured the No. 5 seed in next week's AAC Championship in Orlando with the victory and will meet USF in an opening-round game Thursday. The Tigers will enter the postseason tournament having won five of their last six games.
Jimario Rivers and Alex Moffatt were honored before tipoff in ceremonies at mid-court, then the Tigers began atoning for an overtime loss at ECU on Feb. 3. Memphis shot 53 percent and outrebounded the Pirates, 43-24. The Tigers finished with 14 offensive rebounds and Parks finished with eight rebounds to lead the team.
"We did the right things today," Tiger coach Tubby Smith said. "We played the right way. The key was our defensive effort from the beginning."
The Tigers held ECU (10-19, 4-14 American) to 35.7 percent shooting in the first half, forced six turnovers and enjoyed 12-rebound advantage.
ECU shot considerably better in the second half (58 percent),but was unable to connect from long range like it did in an 88-85 upset win last month. The Pirates made 11 3-pointers in that game.
Brewton, starting at point guard in place of injured Jeremiah Martin, made 10 of 15 shots after going 1-of-10 in last week's loss to USF. He also led the team with seven assists. Brewton knifed his way through traffic multiple times and freed himself for layups and short bank shots.
"He's a scorer," Smith said. "He has a scorer's mentality. He really ran the team the right way, but the most important thing was his defense."
Shawn Williams, who scored a career-high 30 against the Tigers at ECU, led the Pirates with 17 points, but was only 1-of-5 from long range. He made six 3-pointers in Greenville, N.C.
The Tigers, who held a 15-point halftime advantage, did not allow the Pirates to make a serious run in the second half. Memphis built its lead to 32 points midway through the half followiong a Victor Enoh basket in the paint.
Parks closed strong with a 3-pointer and a breakaway reverse dunk in the closing minutes.
"We owed them (from the loss at ECU)," Parks said. "So we came out and played harder."
Memphis led, 45-30, at the half after shooting 55.2 percent (16-of-29) and dominating on the glass. The Tigers outrebounded the Pirates, 22-10.
The Tigers trailed by five points early in the first half but gradually pulled away behind the play of Brewton, Davenport and Parks. Brewton had 15 points at half and Davenport had 14 with five rebounds. Parks scored nine points in the opening 20 minutes.
Trailing by two (25-23) with eight minutes left in the first half, the Tigers put together a 22-5 run to close the half. Brewton scored nine points during the run, including seven of the last eight.
Memphis also benefited from a strong presence in the paint, where it outscored ECU, 26-10, to build the halftime advantage.
ECU was limited to 35.7 percent shooting in the opening half, but got 11 points from Williams.
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/3/4/mens...90-70.aspx