5 reasons Memphis suffered loss at FAU
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Memphis basketball lost a pivotal game to FAU Saturday, 92-84, at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
The Tigers (22-9, 11-7 AAC), who came into the game on the wrong side of most bracketologists’ NCAA tournament bubble projections, will likely need to win four games in four days at next week’s AAC tournament in Fort Worth to advance to March Madness for a third straight time. The Owls (24-7, 14-4) avenged a 78-74 loss at Memphis on Feb. 25.
Penny Hardaway’s team was fighting for a double bye in the conference tournament, but came up short. A packed gymnasium, which included plenty of star power (including Super Bowl champion Antonio Brown, Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie), mostly donning red witnessed four Owls finish in double figures, led by Vladislav Goldin’s 22 points.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 14 points with 6:01 left in the game, but fought back to make it a six-point game with 38 seconds to play. But FAU held Memphis off to score the win. The Tigers’ signature “Whoop That Trick” blared as Johnell Davis stepped to the free-throw line with 15.5 seconds left in the game.
Here are five observations from Saturday’s game.
No answer for Vladislav Goldin − again
Two weeks ago, in FAU’S 78-74 loss at Memphis, Vladislav Goldin had a superb game, dropping 22 points (on 9-of-9 from the floor) and grabbing eight rebounds.
Goldin was even better Saturday. The 7-foot-1 big man gave the Tigers fits inside, collecting 21 points. He also hauled in 12 boards, while blocking a pair of shots.
The pesky 3-point line
Part of what made Memphis successful against FAU at Fedexforum in February was the Owls’ struggles at the 3-point line. FAU made just 7of-28.
But, on Saturday, the Owls were a different team from deep. They made 11 3-pointers, a number significantly boosted by the performances of Bryan Greenlee and Alijah Martin, who combined for eight.
Jahvon Quinerly: Bad time for a bad half
It’s been said many times: when Jahvon Quinerly plays well, Memphis
plays well.
The senior point guard had a very forgettable outing for most of the game against FAU. Quinerly did not score (0 for 2 from the field) and had only one assist, while also committing four turnovers in just 14 minutes in the first half.
Quinerly got hot late, drilling four 3pointers in the second half to finish with 16 points.
He also did not turn the ball over after halftime.
The first-half turning point
Memphis was controlling the flow and dictating the pace. Every punch the Owls threw, the Tigers had an answer.
Then, the tide turned. Trailing 22-17 with 10:23 left in the first half, FAU went on a 17-7 run over a 7:04 span to take a 34-29 lead.
The run began with the majority of Memphis’ starters in the game. But with 9:12 to go until halftime, Hardaway substituted reserve center Jordan Brown in for Nicholas Jourdain. Brown stayed in the game until the 3:15 mark, which is when the Owls’ 17-7 run ended.