Memphis escapes first road conference game with 76-70 win over Rice

Memphis led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but they took control in the second half to secure a six-point win over Rice. With the win, the Tigers improve to .500 on the season and 2-0 in conference play, and it’s the first road win of the season for Penny Hardaway’s group.

Thierno Sylla missed another game with an injury, and Hardaway went with another different starting lineup against the Owls. Hardaway started Dug McDaniel, Zach Davis, Ashton Hardaway, Simon Majok and Aaron Bradshaw.

It’s clear Hardaway wanted to start a lineup with a lot of size against a smaller Rice team, but the group couldn’t capitalize early. After taking a quick 3-0 lead, Rob Lanier’s team responded and had a one-point lead at the first media timeout. 

The Owls continued to knock down shots and went on a 15-2 run to take a 13-point lead with 7:56 left in the first half. The Tigers cut into the lead over the final five minutes of the first half, but they went to the locker room trailing by one point. 

In the first half, Memphis shot 45.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. Aaron Bradshaw had a nice game, and he led the team with eight points in the first half on 3-for-3 shooting.

The biggest issue in the first half was the eight turnovers that Rice turned into 14 points. The Owls also grabbed eight first-half rebounds and recorded 11 second-chance points. 

Lanier’s team only shot 34.6 percent from the field in the first half, but they won the hustle categories to take a lead into the locker room.

Memphis outscored the Owls 9-to-6 to open the second half and regained the lead. The Tigers held on to the lead for the rest of the contest, but it wasn’t easy. 

Hardaway’s team stretched its lead to eight twice in the second half, but it could never stretch it to double digits. Rice even cut the lead to two points with two minutes left in the game, but they responded with a 6-1 run to make it a seven-point game with 32 seconds remaining.

As a team, the Tigers shot 46.9 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three and 86.7 percent from the free throw line on 30 attempts. Four players finished in double figures, and Dug McDaniel led the team with 18 points, on 50 percent shooting, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. 

Sincere Parker and Bradshaw combined for 27 points, but both players fouled out of the game. Bradshaw went 5-for-5 from the field and added four rebounds, while Parker went 5-for-11 from the field. 

Hasan Abdul Hakim also played well and finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. 

Memphis won the rebounding battle 38-to-31, and it scored 24 second-chance points and 34 points in the paint. Hardaway’s team committed 15 turnovers, and the Owls scored 20 points off those turnovers.

Defensively, the Tigers held Rice to 36.5 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep, and they only allowed 15 points off the bench. Four Owls finished in double figures, and Nick Anderson led the team with 17 points, including four three-pointers.

Following the win, Memphis will have a week off before returning to action next Sunday against Florida Atlantic. The Owls sit at 9-5 on the season, and they started conference play on Wednesday with a 40-point win over UTSA.