The Tigers will take on the No. 2 Huskies, the two-time defending NCAA champion, in the first game of college basketball’s premier annual Thanksgiving Week tournament.

The Tigers’ Tilly Boler posted another 20-point performance, her third of the season and ninth of her career. Alasia Smith had 12 points to go with 12 rebounds and six assists. 

The Tigers left almost as much to be desired as they did to be celebrated against the Dons.

Led by Dain Dainja’s 18 points and seven rebounds, the Tigers (4-0) outscored the Dons (4-1) 46-33 in the second half to avoid what would’ve been a letdown ahead of next week’s Maui Invitational.

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Box score: Memphis 68, San Francisco 64

This is the box score for the NCAA game between the Memphis Tigers and the San Francisco Dons on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in San Francisco.

The Tigers will be tested when they face the Dons in a warmup game ahead of next week’s Maui Invitational.

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In a game that entered the fourth quarter tied and saw the lead change three times, the Tigers (2-3) came up short in their attempt to tie the game with 29 seconds left.

The Tigers will play four games in seven days, starting against San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 21, and continuing with back-to-back-to-back games at next week’s Maui Invitational.

According to KenPom, Memphis’ bench has only totaled 21.8% of the team’s total minutes so far this season. That ranks No. 349 out of 364 Division I teams.

Power forward Tyreek Smith, who briefly spent time with the Memphis Tigers basketball program, has a new home.

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“When the chips are down, we just fight harder,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said after the Tigers’ 94-70 win over Ohio. “We don’t come out punching. But when we get down and things look a little bleak, we can turn it on at any given time and push away.”

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Box score: Memphis 94, Ohio University 70

Led by star guard PJ Haggerty’s 23 points (7-of-10 shooting) and seven rebounds, coach Penny Hardaway’s squad shot 56.1% (32-of-57) from the field and 72.2% (13-of-18) from 3-point range.

This is the box score for the NCAA game between the University of Memphis Tigers and the Ohio University Bobcats at FedExForum on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.

The Tigers will look to keep their early-season momentum going when the struggling Bobcats visit FedExForum at 7 p.m. Friday (ESPN+).

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Elauna Eaton led the way for the Tigers with a career-high 20 points. The Tigers will return home to play Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. 

Penny Hardaway came into the season without having filled all 13 of his total scholarships. With the departure of forward Tyreek Smith he’s down to just nine available scholarship players.

Cooper Jones and Katherine Sulentic will serve as deputy athletics directors under the Tigers’ new AD. Sulentic comes to Memphis after 14 years as the NCAA’s associate director of enforcement, investigations and processing.

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Alasia Smith’s career-high 28 points helped the Tigers improve to 2-1 in the 2024-25 season.

“Once it opens up, you know, it’s showtime,” said the Tigers combo guard, who finished with a game-high 29 points to go with three assists and three rebounds, with 16 of those points coming after halftime.

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Box score: Memphis 80, UNLV 74

NCAA box score for the University of Memphis game against UNLV in Las Vegas.

PJ Haggerty scored 29 points and Colby Rogers added 16 as Memphis used a strong second half to improve to 2-0.

The Daily Memphian’s reporters discuss what missing the AAC championship game means for Memphis football, and break down Memphis basketball’s season-opening win over Missouri.