Memphis basketball defeats Canisius

ORLANDO — Memphis coach Penny Hardaway didn’t want to wait for his Tigers to come around in their 71-63 win over Canisius Friday at the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando.

“Early,” the coach emphasized to senior guard Jeremiah Martin in between a pair of Canisius free throws early in the game. “Don’t wait. Go early.”

Assistant coach Mike Miller stood up from the bench to give the same message to the Memphis bigs on the block.

“Do not hesitate,” Miller said to forward Isaiah Maurice. “Run. Just go.”

"We need (energy) from the beginning," Hardaway said. "We couldn't wait. We had to punch first."

After an embarrassing 20-point loss to Oklahoma State Thursday, the Tigers didn’t want to be stuck playing at their opponent’s tempo again. Memphis wanted to feel in control.

"I felt like if we ran that they wouldn't be able to get into that same type of defense that Oklahoma State got into (Thursday)," Hardaway said.

The Tigers never trailed against Canisius, although the Golden Griffins cut the Memphis lead down to five a few times in the second half.

Switching the starters

For the first time this season, Hardaway changed the starting lineup away from the usual combination of Tyler Harris, Alex Lomax, Jeremiah Martin, Kyvon Davenport and Isaiah Maurice.

Instead, Hardaway went with seniors Mike Parks Jr. and Raynere Thornton in place of Davenport and Maurice.

"We needed energy, and big Mike and Raynere bring energy," Hardaway said. "... That's why I went with that decision."

Parks, who played just four minutes in the loss to Oklahoma State Thursday, scored on his first two touches inside.

The senior missed Memphis’ two exhibition games and season opener with back discomfort and played limited minutes in his first game at LSU.

"I knew it would be my time sooner or later," Parks said. "So I had to step up."

Steadying seniors

Parks scored eight of Memphis first 15 points, but after picking up his second foul five minutes into the game, he was forced to sit the rest of the first half.

The 6-foot-8 senior finished with 14 points and five rebounds.

Senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. was the first player off the bench for the Tigers, and played 21 minutes. Brewton also made the layup that stopped the Canisius run that cut the Tigers' lead to five with under two minutes to play.

Senior Kyvon Davenport said Hardaway and Jeremiah Martin challenged the group to contribute more than they did against Oklahoma State, and the seniors responded by combining for 45 points and 29 rebounds Friday.

Davenport finished with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

"The team should expect more from (the seniors)," Davenport said. " And we are going to provide more."

Antwann Jones returns home

Just after Memphis’ loss to LSU earlier this month, Hardaway knew Antwann Jones' moment was coming.

“He checked out,” Hardaway said to Jones’ former AAU coach. “But he’s getting there. We're going to have him ready by Orlando.”

Jones, an Orlando native, looked ready Friday. He said his 14-point, six-rebound game against Canisius was the best he's played in a Tigers uniform so far.

"I knew Antwann would be ready because he was coming back home," Hardaway said. "I was afraid that he was going to be too hype because he wanted to play great in front of his friends and his family."

The 6-foot-6 guard finished with season highs in points, rebounds and minutes.

Up next

Memphis will take on the winner of Charleston vs. UAB at 5:30 p.m. CST Sunday.