Knoxville, TN (Sports Network) - Joe Jackson scored 20 points, leading four
starters in double figures, as the Memphis Tigers held on to defeat the
Tennessee Volunteers, 85-80, in non-conference play at Thompson-Boling
Arena.
Jackson, who shot 9-of-11 at the free-throw line, added seven assists and four
steals for the Tigers (10-3) as they picked up their fourth win in a row and
the eighth in nine tries. Adonis Thomas tallied 18 points, Geron Johnson 16
and D.J. Stephens 11 points to go along with six boards and five blocked shots
for the visitors.
The Volunteers (8-4) were paced by Jordan McRae who dropped in a game-high 26
points in 31 minutes off the bench, followed by Josh Richardson with 20 and
nine boards as the team had a four-game win streak snapped. Kenny Hall logged
a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Jarnell
Stokes came up a rebound shy of a double-double himself as he posted 11
points.
Memphis scored the first points of the night and never looked back as the team
made good on an impressive 64.0 percent from the floor, including 4-of-5
behind the three-point line in the first half on the way to a 42-28 lead at
the break.
After shooting just 27.6 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes of
action, the Vols showed signs of life in the second half with 56.8 percent
accuracy as they closed the gap from what was once a 21-point deficit to
single digits before suffering the five-point setback.
The Tigers finished the meeting with 56.4 percent accuracy from the field and
7-of-11 shooting beyond the arc.
GAME NOTES:
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