03-09-2018, 11:28 AM
ORLANDO â The University of Memphis continued its late-season success Thursday by winning for the sixth time in seven games. This victory, however, may have been a bit sweeter.
Kyvon Davenport scored a career-high 27 points and David Nickelberry, playing in his hometown, matched his career-best with 14 points to lead the Tigers past UCF, 79-77, in the opening round of the Aaron's American Athletic Conference Championship at the Amway Center.
The win avenged the only loss for the Tigers since Feb. 11, a 75-51 defeat to USF at FedExForum March 1.
Thursday the Tigers jumped to an 8-0 lead and never trailed in the game, which became a nail-biter during the closing minute. The victory gave the Tigers (20-12) their first 20-win season in four years and moved them into Friday's quarterfinals against No. 4 seed Tulsa (19-11). The game tips off at 1 p.m. CT and will be carried by ESPN2.
"I'm happy to get the win, we had to hold on to get the win," said Tiger coach Tubby Smith. "I'm proud of how our guys hung in there and finished the game."
Memphis led, 77-70, with 3:40 to go after a 3-pointer from Kareem Brewton, who finished with 12 points. But USF (10-22) outscored the Tigers, 7-2, in the final 2:45 to make it close. Two free throws by reserve point guard Malik Rhodes with 26.7 seconds left provided the margin of victory.
Davenport surpassed his previous career-high of 23 and added nine rebounds. He had four of the Tigers' eight 3-pointers and finished 10-of-13 from the field, helping the U of M shoot 57.1 percent and tying its second-best percentage this season.
"We are playing comfortable and we are playing smart," Davenport said. "We just have to keep executing and playing smart."
Memphis led 38-29 at the half, benefitting from shooting 60.9 percent. Nickelberry had 12 points at the half. Nickelberry reached double figures for the first time since scoring 14 in a Dec. 23 win at home vs. Loyola. Nickelberry was 5-of-6 shooting in the first half and made six of his eight attempts overall.
"He is from this area," Smith said. "He had a great game. And we needed every point he had today."
The Tigers opened the game by taking an 8-0 lead, aided by 3-pointers from Davenport and Brewton. After the Bulls rallied to trim the deficit to two points (13-11), Memphis went on a 9-2 run and eventually built a 12-point lead at 32-20 on a runner by Nickelberry.
In the second half, the Tigers led by as many as 15 on two occasions, the last coming at 68-53 on a Davenport free throw with 8:39 to go.
David Collins, a member of the league's all-freshman team, led USF with 30 points, a career-high.
Memphis advanced despite being outrebounded (31-28), committing 14 turnovers and missing 10 of 25 free throws.
NOTABLES
+ Memphis last won 20 or more games during the 2013-14 season under former coach Josh Pastner.
+ USF fell to 1-5 overall record in the AAC Tournament. The only win came two years ago against East Carolina.
+ Tiger forward Kyvon Davenport finished with a career-high 27 points, which included career highs in field goals made (10) and 3-pointers made (4).
+ Tiger swingman David Nickelberry played 23 minutes, his most time on the floor since playing 28 minutes in a Feb. 6 loss to No. 21 Wichita State.
+ Memphis shot 57.1 percent, second only to the Dec. 9 home game against Bryant. In that game the Tigers shot 57.6 percent.
+ Nickelberry tied his career-high, which he originally set Dec. 23 against Loyola (Md.)
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/3/8/mens...tulsa.aspx
Kyvon Davenport scored a career-high 27 points and David Nickelberry, playing in his hometown, matched his career-best with 14 points to lead the Tigers past UCF, 79-77, in the opening round of the Aaron's American Athletic Conference Championship at the Amway Center.
The win avenged the only loss for the Tigers since Feb. 11, a 75-51 defeat to USF at FedExForum March 1.
Thursday the Tigers jumped to an 8-0 lead and never trailed in the game, which became a nail-biter during the closing minute. The victory gave the Tigers (20-12) their first 20-win season in four years and moved them into Friday's quarterfinals against No. 4 seed Tulsa (19-11). The game tips off at 1 p.m. CT and will be carried by ESPN2.
"I'm happy to get the win, we had to hold on to get the win," said Tiger coach Tubby Smith. "I'm proud of how our guys hung in there and finished the game."
Memphis led, 77-70, with 3:40 to go after a 3-pointer from Kareem Brewton, who finished with 12 points. But USF (10-22) outscored the Tigers, 7-2, in the final 2:45 to make it close. Two free throws by reserve point guard Malik Rhodes with 26.7 seconds left provided the margin of victory.
Davenport surpassed his previous career-high of 23 and added nine rebounds. He had four of the Tigers' eight 3-pointers and finished 10-of-13 from the field, helping the U of M shoot 57.1 percent and tying its second-best percentage this season.
"We are playing comfortable and we are playing smart," Davenport said. "We just have to keep executing and playing smart."
Memphis led 38-29 at the half, benefitting from shooting 60.9 percent. Nickelberry had 12 points at the half. Nickelberry reached double figures for the first time since scoring 14 in a Dec. 23 win at home vs. Loyola. Nickelberry was 5-of-6 shooting in the first half and made six of his eight attempts overall.
"He is from this area," Smith said. "He had a great game. And we needed every point he had today."
The Tigers opened the game by taking an 8-0 lead, aided by 3-pointers from Davenport and Brewton. After the Bulls rallied to trim the deficit to two points (13-11), Memphis went on a 9-2 run and eventually built a 12-point lead at 32-20 on a runner by Nickelberry.
In the second half, the Tigers led by as many as 15 on two occasions, the last coming at 68-53 on a Davenport free throw with 8:39 to go.
David Collins, a member of the league's all-freshman team, led USF with 30 points, a career-high.
Memphis advanced despite being outrebounded (31-28), committing 14 turnovers and missing 10 of 25 free throws.
NOTABLES
+ Memphis last won 20 or more games during the 2013-14 season under former coach Josh Pastner.
+ USF fell to 1-5 overall record in the AAC Tournament. The only win came two years ago against East Carolina.
+ Tiger forward Kyvon Davenport finished with a career-high 27 points, which included career highs in field goals made (10) and 3-pointers made (4).
+ Tiger swingman David Nickelberry played 23 minutes, his most time on the floor since playing 28 minutes in a Feb. 6 loss to No. 21 Wichita State.
+ Memphis shot 57.1 percent, second only to the Dec. 9 home game against Bryant. In that game the Tigers shot 57.6 percent.
+ Nickelberry tied his career-high, which he originally set Dec. 23 against Loyola (Md.)
http://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/3/8/mens...tulsa.aspx