Freshmen Bates, Duren lead Memphis past Tennessee Tech

Tue, Nov 9, 2021
NCAAB News (AP)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Emoni Bates scored 17 points in his collegiate debut, Jalen Duren and Lester Quinones added 15 apiece and No. 12 Memphis beat Tennessee Tech 89-65 on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Tigers got 12 points from DeAndre Williams, who was 6 of 7 from the floor. Memphis (1-0) shot 55.6% for the game.

The Tigers started a season with a load of promise bolstered by one of the top recruiting classes in the country, centered on Bates and Duren. Memphis also returned a core of veterans to complement the freshmen.

Mamoudou Diarra led Tennessee Tech (0-1) with 11 points.

Memphis pulled away with a 10-0 run to open the second half. That stretched the advantage to 21 and the Tigers coasted to the win.

Tennessee Tech, which finished 5-22 last season, is picked to finish eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Memphis established its dominance early in the game. By the first media timeout, Memphis was 7 of 9 from the field and held an 11-point lead. But the Golden Eagles scrapped on defense and chopped into the Tigers' advantage.

Memphis still maintained a 52-41 lead headed to halftime.

The Tigers led by 24 in the second half.

BIG PICTURE

Tennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles kept things interesting in the first half, avoiding the blowout some expected. While not really threatening Memphis, Tennessee Tech at least kept it close for a while.

Memphis: While Tennessee Tech gave the Tigers a bit of a fight in the first half, the season opener served its purpose in getting Memphis off to a good start. While coach Penny Hardaway shuffled his lineup throughout the game, Memphis showed flashes of expectations, such as shooting 62.5% in the first half, including 60% from 3. There also were struggles as Memphis committed 17 turnovers.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

It is hard to take anything away from this game as far as the Tigers' national ranking. Some of that will depend on how other teams above them fared during the season's first week. But Memphis didn't do anything in the season opener to discredit its slot at No. 12.

UP NEXT

Tennessee Tech: Entertains Oakwood University from Huntsville, Alabama on Sunday

Memphis: Hosts North Carolina Central on Saturday in the second game of a season-opening, four-game homestand.