Achiuwa, free throws save Memphis vs. last-place Tulane
NEW ORLEANS — Deep breath — now, exhale.
This time, the Memphis Tigers overcame a late goaltending call and beat last-place Tulane 74-67 in overtime on Saturday.
Earlier this week, a potentially pivotal Precious Achiuwa block, which would have kept the Tigers in their game at SMU, was ruled goaltending and Memphis lost a crucial matchup.
A similar scenario played out at Tulane, with a play made by Achiuwa at the rim in the final seconds of regulation being ruled goaltending, allowing the Green Wave to tie the game and send it into overtime.
"We went through so many blows in this game," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. "To withstand all those blows — foul trouble, turnovers — and just to hold steady with a veteran group of guys on their home floor, was definitely proud of the guys. It was a total team effort."
Achiuwa put together perhaps the best performance of his young Tiger career, dropping 22 points and hauling in a career-high 22 rebounds. The goaltending call was still on his mind, though, after the game.
"After the ref made that call, I went to the corner and I was talking to one of the refs," Achiuwa said. "I was like, 'Ref, you've got to be really honest with me. Do you think that was goaltending?' And he said, 'It was really close.' I'm guessing it was just at a very crucial moment of the game ... and they didn't really just want to give the game away, I guess."
Memphis (20-9, 9-7 AAC) scored 14 points in overtime, 12 of which came at the free throw line. Two from Tyler Harris, who hit a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left in regulation, tied things up at 63-63 with 2:43 left. The sophomore guard nailed two more with 39 seconds left to put the Tigers up 71-65 and give them plenty of breathing room.
Memphis hit 12 of its 14 free throws in overtime.
"We did what we had to do," Hardaway said. "We put ourselves in position where they had to foul us in the end, and we made our free throws."
Here are three key observations from the game.
Give and take
The same week the Tigers were hurt by turnovers against SMU (21, which led to 20 points for the Mustangs), they were at it again, keeping another team in the game.
The Tigers, who came into the game averaging 16.5, hit the 20-turnover mark with more than 11 minutes left (compared to Tulane's six). The Green Wave (12-17, 4-13) gladly pounced, scoring 25 points off Memphis turnovers, which eventually totaled 24 — the seventh time this season it has eclipsed 20.
"They put so much pressure on themselves to play well that I think sometimes they get tight and that's why we turn the ball over," Hardaway said.
"We're not loose enough. Not having enough fun."
As the turnovers continued to pile up, Memphis fans on social media were vocal in their frustration. Hardaway said he knows just how they felt.
"It's the same way," he said. "There's an inside me that jumps out like a cartoon and looks back at myself with a scream, with the mouth open wide, screaming. It's just, to me, I think it's just the pressure they put on themselves to make the right play way too much. Instead of just allowing the game to happen."
The Tigers did some capitalizing of their own, though. Tulane failed to put any significant pressure on Memphis because of poor 3-point shooting. The Green Wave were 3-for-20 from deep in the first half. And the Tigers made them pay.
Memphis scored 12 points off missed Tulane triples before halftime, helping the Tigers take a 30-27 lead into the break.
Early double-double
Feeding Achiuwa when he's hungry is often a sound strategy.
The Tigers used Achiuwa's size and athleticism to their advantage from the jump. Achiuwa was 6-of-7 from the field on his way to 12 first-half points.
Achiuwa got the job done on the glass, too. He had 10 rebounds (three on the offensive end) to record his 16th double-double of the season.
Achiuwa came in without a doubledouble in back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 22 and 25. He has more double-doubles than any freshman in the country and entered play Saturday as the top rebounding freshman in the nation. His 22 easily outpaced his previous career-high of 17 on Feb. 13 against Cincinnati.
"And five blocks — oh my gosh," Hardaway said. "Last year, Jeremiah (Martin) averaging 30 a game in February was amazing. This was on that level."
Achiuwa also moved into a tie for 12th in school history for most doubledoubles in a single season. Keith Lee, Lorenzen Wright and Chris Massie also had 16 in 1984-85, 1995-96 and 200203, respectively.
Struggling starters
Boogie Ellis scored 11 points, but he fouled out with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
But the rest of Memphis' starting lineup struggled for the second straight game. The combination of Lance Thomas, Lester Quinones and Damion Baugh managed just 11 points, including five in overtime — all from Quinones at the free throw line.
It was similar to the loss at SMU. Achiuwa and Quinones combined for 33 points, but the other three starters combined for just 11.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.