MEMPHIS – The Memphis Tigers went toe to toe with one of college basketball’s true blue bloods but the U of M couldn’t hold on to an early double digit lead in losing to the Tar Heels 84-76 in the first ever Hoops for St. Jude Tip off Classic.
This was an exhibition game with all proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
PJ Haggerty led three Tigers in double figures with 24 points but 22 Memphis turnovers led to 25 Tar Heel points to allow UNC to get the hard fought exhibition win.
Playing without star guard RJ Davis, sidelined with a back issue, Seth Trimble scored a game high 33 points. Jalen Washington chipped in 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting.
“It does me a ton of good and better as a coach from what I saw. I know where we are. I know what we’re going to be,” said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. “I’m not trying to be the best coach and the best team in October. I’ve learned my lesson on that going into my seventh year. But I do know that we did some great things.”
“Very exciting game. I mean, I know it doesn’t count, but it was a lot of fun seeing all the fans. Playing with my new team for the first time. It was a great experience,” Haggerty said. “You know, we lost, but, at the end of the day, I don’t let one game define us.”
Especially one in the preseason.
The Tigers will play another one of the nation’s top teams in another one of these charity exhibition games on Monday October 28th in Huntsville. That’s when Memphis takes on an Alabama team ranked second in the country.
In game two of Tuesday night’s doubleheader at FedExForum, defending National Champion South Carolina took down Alex Simmons’ Tigers 106-63.
The Gamecocks out-rebounding the Tigers 58-25.
Former Jackson State transfer Tilly Boler led Memphis with 16 points but Boler was just 4 of 18 from the floor with South Carolina holding the Tigers to under 35% shooting.
Joyce Edwards led four Gamecocks in double figures with a game high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
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