Memphis comes up short in Huntsville to No.2 Alabama 96-88
by: MEMPHIS TIGERS ATHLETICS
HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Memphis Tigers wrapped up preseason play with a 96-88 loss on the road to No. 2 Alabama Monday night at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama.
PJ Haggerty once again led trio of double-figure scorers with 32 points in 35 minutes. He also added a team-high nine rebounds, four assists and four steals, while connecting on 14-of-18 at the free throw line. Big man Dain Dainja poured in 16 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 6-of-12 from the floor in 19 minutes.
Tyrese Hunter recorded 12 points, a team-high six assists, five rebounds and three thefts in 31 minutes. Colby Rogers totaled seven points and six boards, and Moussa Cisse contributed seven points, five rebounds and a game-high three blocks in his first action of the preseason.
The Tigers struggled to find their shot in the first half, trailing 49-29 at the break. They were just 10-of-36 (27.8%) overall and 0-of-7 from three-point range in the first 20 minutes.
The second half, however, was a different story. Haggerty poured in 28 of his 32 after halftime to power Memphis to 51.4-percent shooting (19-37) as the Tigers outscored the Crimson Tide, 59-47.
For the night, the blue and gray shot 39.7 percent (29-of-73) from the field, and connected on 29-of-48 from the charity stripe. They won the rebounding battle 51 to 42 and recorded 19 assists, 14 steals and six blocks as a squad.
The Tigers dominated the points in the paint (54-30) and scored 25 points off 20 Alabama turnovers.
Alabama was led in scoring by All-American point guard Mark Sears with 20 points. Labaron Philon finished with 17 points and a game-high seven dimes as the Crimson Tide put six players in double figures.
Alabama shot 48.2 percent from the field (27-of-56) and drained 12-of-31 from 3-point land.
The two squads combined for 96 free throw attempts on 68 called fouls. Alabama was 30-of-48 and the Tigers hit 29-of-48.