Tigers Rout Shockers will close out February

MEMPHIS, TN – The Memphis Tigers led wire to wire in an 81-57 win over the Wichita State Shockers on Sunday afternoon at FedExForum. The 24-point margin of victory is the largest of 28 all-time meetings between the two schools since 1958-59.
Memphis (17-9, 11-5 American Athletic Conference) has won eight of its last nine games and 11 of the last 15 overall. The Tigers sit in third place in the AAC standings heading into the final week of the regular season, half a game behind 11-4 SMU. Houston is in first place at 13-2, and the Cougars will be in Memphis next Sunday for the regular season finale.
The Tigers were led by Nolley II landersa season-high 22 points. He had 4 of 6 3-point attempts and 7 of 10 shots from the field overall. Jalen Duren added 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, and Lester Quinone and DeAndre Williams had 12 points each.
Memphis jumped on the Shockers from the start, scoring 12 of the game’s first 14 points and using an 18-0 run in the latter part of the first half to open a 35-9 advantage. During that run, the Tiger’s defense forced Wichita State’s 14 straight misses.
After leading 39-17 at halftime, the Tigers shot 60.7% in the second half (17-28) en route to victory.
Memphis finished the contest shooting 55.4% from the floor (31-56), 50.0% from distance (7-14) and 85.7% from the free throw line (12-14) .
The Tigers led by no less than 28 points Sunday afternoon.
Wichita State 13-12 (4-9 AAC) was led by Tyson Etienneit’s 11 points.
FOLLOWING
The regular season ends in South Florida Thursday at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU and at home against Houston next Sunday, March 6 at 11 a.m. on CBS. Tickets are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331.
Tickets for the U.S. Championship in Track and Field, which runs March 10-13 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, are also available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- Memphis used the starting formation of Alex Lomax, Lester Quinone, Nolley II landers, DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for the fifth straight game.
- Memphis has used 16 different starting formations in 26 games this season.
- The last five games mark the first time this season the Tigers have used the same roster in five straight games.
- Memphis has won four straight against the Shockers and six of the last seven meetings overall.
- The Tigers lead the all-time series, 16-12, and lead Memphis 11-3.
- The head coach Penny Hardaway is 6-1 against Wichita State in his head coaching career.
- The Tigers finished the game shooting 55.4 percent from the field, their third best mark in a game this season.
- The Tigers have won 42 straight games shooting more than 50.0 percent from the field.
- The streak began after shooting 54.4% (31-57) in an 87-74 loss at Cincinnati on Feb. 23, 2017.
- Memphis went 12 for 14 from the free throw line (.857).
- The Tigers are shooting 80.8% from the charity strip over the last six games (84-104).
- Memphis has shot 59.0 percent in the previous five games (62-105).
- The Tigers finished February with a 6-1 record.
- The last time Memphis won six games in February was in the 2012-13 season.
- Memphis has won seven straight games scoring over 80 points.
- Nolley II landers led the Tigers for the fourth time this season with 22 points.
- He set season and AAC highs, bettering his 20 points at No. 6/7 Houston (2/12) and the 20 he also scored against UCF on Feb. 1, 2021.
- The redshirt junior tied his season-high with four trebles (at No. 6/7 Houston, 2/12) and set a season-high in field goals with seven.
- Jalen Duren finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
- The rookie has scored in double figures in nine straight games.
- He has blocked at least one shot in 20 of the 22 games he has played this season.
- With 52 blocks this year, Duren surpassed Shawne Williams (2005-06) and sole possession of eighth place by a freshman Tiger in a single season.
- DeAndre Williams finished the game with 12 points and two steals.
- The senior has scored in double figures in consecutive games for the fifth time this season.
- He also had at least one steal in 12 of the 19 games he played.
- Lester Quinone hit the double-digit mark for the seventh time in the last eight games.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete Memphis Tiger Men’s Basketball information, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media at Twitter, instagram and Facebook.