History Links COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Nicholas Boyd drove into the lane and made a float with 2.5 seconds left, and Florida Atlantic beat Memphis 66-65 Friday night in a back-and-forth game comes sturdy for the school’s very first NCAA Tournament Victory.
Coach Penny Hardaway’s (26-9) Tigers had the ball and a one-point lead with 19 seconds left, but a steal from Brandon Weatherspoon and a subsequent jump ball – Hardaway argued his team called a timeout before the tie – gave the Owls (32-3) a chance, and Boyd converted.
Kendric Davis scored a game-high 16 points despite a second-half leg injury for eighth-seeded Memphis.
DeAndre Williams added 13 points while playing most of the second half with four fouls for the Tigers, including a tip that put his team ahead 65-64 with 34 seconds left.
The Owls won the Conference USA title to enter the tournament for the second time, 21 years after their first appearance. The school will move to the American Athletic Conference next season, where Memphis will be an annual foe.
POST-GAME NOTES Memphis used the starting lineup of Kendric Davis, DeAndre Williams, Chandler Lawson, Eljah McCadden and Jayden Hardaway for the seventh time this season. Memphis is 5-2 with that starting five. The Tigers are now 35-28 all-time in the NCAA Tournament in 28 appearances. Memphis shot 43.1 percent overall (25-58) and hit just 6 of 22 from long range (27.3). FAU outshot the Tigers 32-26 in the paint. Memphis is now 15-2 this season in allowing 69 or fewer points in a game. The Tigers have allowed 78 or fewer points in consecutive games. Memphis is 22-3 when the opposition is shooting less than 45.0 percent from the floor. The Tigers led 35-31 at halftime. Memphis is 23-3 this season leading at the break. The Tigers’ 26 wins this year are the most in the Penny Hardaway era and the most overall since winning 31 in the 2012-13 season. Memphis and FAU are tied 1-1 in the all-time series. That only other meeting between the programs came on Feb. 3, 1993, when the Tigers won 96-46 at Memphis behind 10 points and 10 assists from junior Penny Hardaway. DeAndre Williams recorded his 12th double-double of the season and 22nd of his career with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He recorded his team-high 13th game of the year with double-digit rebounds and had 10-plus games in four straight games. He recorded a team record four pennies. Kendric Davis led the Tigers in scoring for the 23rd time this season behind 16 points. The point guard hit double digits in 25 straight games and ended his 6-game streak of 20 or more points.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger men’s basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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