Jahvon Quinerly's 3-pointer with 44 seconds remaining in the game against Wichita State on Saturday at FedExForum was nothing short of extraordinary. It not only gave Memphis basketball their first lead of the game but also ended their devastating four-game losing streak, keeping their hopes of making it to the NCAA tournament alive.
However, it was David Jones' clutch midrange jumper with 2.8 seconds left that ultimately sealed the deal for the Tigers. Let's dive into the five key takeaways from this thrilling game.
David Jones Continues to Shine
Once again, Memphis' leading scorer, David Jones, showcased his exceptional skills against Wichita State. He led the Tigers with a remarkable 26 points, 16 of which were scored in the second half. Jones proved to be invaluable, especially at the free-throw line, where he converted six crucial points.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin Makes an Impact
Getting their newest member, Nae'Qwan Tomlin, involved in the offense has been a challenge for the Tigers. However, in this game, Tomlin had 11 field goal attempts, just one short of his season-high, and managed to convert them into 10 points. Only Jones and Malcolm Dandridge finished with more points than Tomlin.
Rotation Strategies
Coach Penny Hardaway experimented with a new starting lineup, including Quinerly, Jones, Jaykwon Walton, Dandridge, and Tomlin. Although this lineup played only briefly in the first half, it started the second half strong with an 8-3 run. However, a 17-5 run by Wichita State forced Hardaway to make adjustments. In the end, Hardaway found a combination that worked, and the Tigers outscored Wichita State 22-8 to secure the win.
Jahvon Quinerly's Resilience
Jahvon Quinerly has been struggling with his shooting lately. In this game, he missed his first 12 field goal attempts, including three from beyond the arc. However, he didn't let the poor shooting affect his overall performance. Quinerly made up for it with an impressive display of passing, contributing eight assists and six rebounds while committing just one turnover.
Turnover Troubles
The Tigers have been plagued by turnovers throughout the season, and this game was no exception. In the first half alone, they committed nine turnovers. However, they managed to turn things around in the second half, limiting their turnovers to just three, which only resulted in four points for Wichita State.
Memphis basketball's victory over Wichita State was a much-needed boost for the team, as they snapped their losing streak and kept their NCAA tournament hopes alive. With standout performances from players like David Jones and Jahvon Quinerly, and improvements in their rotation strategies, the Tigers are poised to bounce back stronger than ever.
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