Strong Second Half Pushes Tigers Past Pirates
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Tigers used a strong second half to rally and defeat the Pirates of East Carolina, 69-59, Saturday afternoon inside FedExForum.
Memphis (12-4, 2-1) trailed 33-25 at the break but outscored the Pirates 44-26 in the second half, highlighted by a 22-0 run.
Fifth-year forward DeAndre Williams posted 19 points on 8-of-17 from the field to go with four rebounds.
Fifth-year guard Alex Lomax became the fourth Tiger since the 2010-11 season to register seven or more steals in a game and is the first to do so since Damion Baugh swiped seven against New Orleans in 2019. Lomax added seven points and six assists.
Despite having just two points at the break, fifth-year guard Kendric Davis accounted for 14 points, six assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds.
Nine Tigers played at least 13 minutes in the game.
Memphis used a stifling defense in the second half to grab control of the game. The Tigers forced East Carolina into a season-high 22 turnovers and scored 28 points off those miscues.
They held the Pirates (10-7, 1-3 AAC) to 33.3 percent shooting after halftime (9-27), and only allowed 14.3 percent from three-point range (2-14) after ECU hit 7-of-14 from long range in the first 20 minutes.
Memphis torched the nets in the second half, going 17-of-29 for a 58.6-percent clip overall. They finished the night 47.5 percent (28-59) and made 11-of-17 from the free throw line.
East Carolina was led by Brandon Johnson’s 15 points.
UP NEXT
Memphis is back in action next Wednesday, Jan. 11, at UCF. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Tigers then travel to Temple on Sunday, Jan. 15 for a 2 p.m. CT bout on ESPN2 before returning to FedExForum on Thursday, Jan. 16 against Wichita State at 6 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
Memphis used the starting lineup of Kendric Davis, Alex Lomax, DeAndre Williams, Chandler Lawson and Elijah McCadden for the third time this season, going 3-0. Memphis has won eight of the last nine games against East Carolina and leads the all-time series between the two schools, 25-5. That includes a 15-1 advantage in games played in Memphis. The Tigers have won 17 of their last 18 AAC home games. Memphis extended its winning streak at FedExForum to 14 games with the victory. The 22-0 run was the largest for the Tigers in at least the last three seasons. The Tigers swiped 15 steals as a team, their second-most of the year. They had 16 against Little Rock. Memphis now has double-digit steals in three straight games, and in five of the last six. Memphis dominated the paint, 44-24, and outscored the Pirated 17-10 off the bench. Memphis forced a season high 22 turnovers in the win. It marks the third time they’ve forced an opponent into 20-turnovers and the second time in the last three games. Alex Lomax passed Otis Jackson (1978-82) for seventh on the program’s all-time steals list. He now has 208 for his career. DeAndre Williams registered his 12th-straight game in double figures. He led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season. Elijah McCadden earned his third start of the season and produced nine points on 4-of-4 shooting with four rebounds. Keonte Kennedy finished with eight points and four rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.