Memphis Downs Michigan in Battle 4 Atlantis Opener
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Behind 17 points from freshman Ashton Hardaway and a defensive effort that forced 18 turnovers, the Memphis Tigers defeated Michigan in the Battle 4 Atlantis opener Wednesday evening, 71-67.
Memphis (4-0) advances to the semifinals where it will play No. 20 Arkansas at 4 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN. The winner will face either No. 14 North Carolina or Villanova Friday in the championship game.
The younger Hardaway had a coming out party on national television, leading a trio of Tigers in double figures. In 18 minutes of action, he shot 6-of-9 overall and connected on five three-pointers. David Jones struggled much of the night, but finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and knocked down six crucial free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Caleb Mills added 10 points, four rebounds and put a Michigan defender on his back with a crossover in the first half that is likely to be talked about the rest of the season. Point guard Jahvon Quinerly nearly posted a double-double with nine points and a season-high eight assists.
With head coach Penny Hardaway on the sideline for the first time in 2023-24, the Tigers put on a defensive show that had not been showcased this season.
They held Michigan, a team putting up 91.5 points per game entering the night, to 24.5 points below its season average. The 18 turnovers from the Wolverines are a season high and their 39.3-percent mark from the field was a season low. They held Michigan scoreless for multiple four-minute-long periods in the first 20 minutes and forced 13 of the 18 miscues.
The Tigers scored 21 points off those turnovers and led by as many as 16 in the second half.
Memphis took advantage of a sputtering Wolverine offense and closed the first half on a 17-6 run to go into the locker room up 37-25.
Michigan (3-2) stormed back in the second half, cutting it to a two-point deficit with 9.1 seconds to play, but Jones scored the last nine points to keep the Tigers in front.
The Wolverines got 18 points and seven rebounds from Olivier Nkamhoua, while Nimari Burnett totaled 16 points and nine rebounds.
POSTGAME NOTES
Memphis used the starting lineup of Jahvon Quinerly, Caleb Mills, Jaykwon Walton, David Jones and Jordan Brown for the second-straight game. Memphis shot 43.9 percent overall (25-57) and drained 41.7 percent from long distance (10-24). The Tigers have made double-digit triples in a game three times this season, matching the yearly totals from 2021-22 and 2022-23. Ashton Hardaway entered the night with only two points through the first three games, but in the span of 1:11 in the first half, he scored eight-straight points after hitting a fadeaway mid-range jumper and back-to-back threes. His five three-pointers are the most in a game by a freshman Tiger since Boogie Ellis went 6-of-9 from distance against Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 8, 2019. Memphis’ defense held its third-straight opponent to under 40-percent shooting from the field. It marks the 11th time in the last two seasons that the Tigers have held their opponent to under 40 percent. The Tigers’ 18 turnovers forced are the second-most of the season. It’s the 48th time under Coach Hardaway that Memphis has forced at least 15 turnovers in a game. Michigan won the battle on the boards, 50-28, including 19-6 on the offensive end that led to a 15-4 edge in second-chance points. It marks the first time since at least 2010-11 that the Tigers have been outrebounded by 22 or more in a winning effort. It is also the first time the Tigers have been outrebounded by at least 20 since Jan. 5, 2017, against UConn. Memphis’ bench outscored Michigan 32-10.
Memphis has some good fortune renewing their rivalry in Atlantis next against #20 Arkansas. The Hogs rallied to beat Stanford 77-74 in double overtime Wednesday night their opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
Battle 4 Atlantis: #20 Arkansas vs. Memphis at 4:00 p.m. Thursday (11/23) on ESPN