Memphis BB blasts State in Starkville in Preseason Matchup

Memphis Surges for 75-58 Exhibition Road Win at Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Taking control early in the second half, the Memphis men’s basketball program created separation and never looked back in a 75-58 victory over Mississippi State in an exhibition game Friday at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Tigers led 39-35 at the intermission when they opened the second half on an 11-0 spurt to go up 50-35 with 16:20 left. The team’s lead never dropped below 14 points the rest of the way.

Memphis outscored the Bulldogs 36-23 in the second half where it held Mississippi State to .370 shooting and 1-of-12 from long range.

The Tigers led for over 38 minutes in the game.

Senior Jayden Reid, a Preseason All-Conference First-Team selection, shined with a game-high 26 points. He was 11-of-15 from the field with four assists, three steals and no turnovers.

Reid was one of four Tigers to score in double-figures. Nemanja Popovic registered 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while senior Luke Almodovar tallied 11 points. Fifth year Rihards Vavers tallied 10 points and five rebounds.

Mississippi State saw Tajuan Simpkins score 11 points. Josh Hubbard, an SEC Preseason All-Conference First-Team honoree who averaged 22.1 points per game last year, was limited to four points in 23 minutes.The Tigers came out fast and led 10-4 after a fast-break lay-up by Popovic. A dunk by Vavers and a lay-in by Reid increased it to 17-6 at the 15:49 mark.

Memphis’ biggest lead of the half was 28-16 after a three by Reid with 8:23 to go. The Tigers were still in front 32-23 after a jumper by Popovic with 5:45 remaining.

The Bulldogs made a push late in the first half and trimmed it to 36-33 with 1:26 left. Memphis got a stop on the final possession of the half to carry a 39-35 lead into the break.

The Tigers opened the second half on an 11-0 run as a pull-up jumper by Reid made it 50-35 at the 16:20 mark. A three-point play by Reid increased it further to 58-39 with 12:16 left.

Memphis was still ahead 67-48 after a cut in the paint by Vavers with 5:58 to go. A three by junior Brandin Cummings kept the Tigers in front 73-56 with 1:34 remaining.

It was the first of two exhibition games for Memphis, both on the road. The Tigers will head to Fayetteville to face No. 14 Arkansas at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

- Memphis won the turnover battle 15-9. It led to a 19-5 edge in fast break scoring and a 17-7 advantage in points off turnovers.

- Reid’s 26 points would have been two shy of his career-high 28 points last season against Illinois as a member of Northwestern.

- Senior Tylik Weeks, a Preseason All-Conference Second-Team selection, led the Tigers in rebounding with nine.

- Former teammates squared off against each other as Vavers and Mississippi State center ND Okafor both played for Washington State last season. Memphis held Okafor to two points after he averaged 11.0 points per outing with the Cougars.

- Memphis and Mississippi State have the potential to play each other in the regular season as both are participating in the Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas. The Tigers will play Penn State, and the Bulldogs face Wake Forest on Nov. 25 with the winners and losers playing each other on Nov. 27.

- The regular season opener is Monday, Nov. 2 against No. 18 Iowa State at 6 p.m. in a neutral site game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The home opener is Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. against VCU at FedExForum.

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