DeAndre Williams (l.) had 14 factors for Memphis in its March Insanity first spherical win over Boise State.
AP
PORTLAND, Ore. — Classes from a tricky begin to the season helped Memphis climate a second-half problem by Boise State on Thursday.
DeAndre Williams had 14 factors, Jalen Duren made a vital basket down the stretch and the ninth-seeded Tigers survived their first-round sport in opposition to the Broncos with a 64-53 victory within the NCAA Match.
The Tigers (22-10), whose poor begin to the season had coach Penny Hardaway dropping expletives in a press convention, are into the second spherical within the West Area and can play top-seeded Gonzaga on Saturday. The Bulldogs downed No. 16 seed Georgia State, 93-72.
“I simply felt like (Hardaway) did an ideal job of getting ready us for that second. Simply all through my previous and my historical past, I’ve at all times been in video games the place I might be up 20 or down 20, and the sport isn't over,” Duren mentioned. “Coach Penny put us in the fitting spots, that at all times assist us get by way of each time.”
Duren completed with 10 factors and 11 rebounds for the Tigers, who had been 9-8 after 17 video games however went on a late-season cost to succeed in the match for the primary time since 2014. The Tigers have now gained 13 of their previous 15 video games.
Abu Kigab had 20 factors to guide the eighth-seeded Broncos (27-8), the Mountain West regular-season and match champs, who had been making their first look within the match since 2015.
Boise State trailed by 19 on the half however, profiting from a chilly snap by the Tigers, narrowed the hole to 42-35 with 9:45 left. The Tigers had scored simply 4 second-half factors earlier than Williams’ dunk with 9:18 left received them going once more.
Kigab hit a 3-pointer and a brief jumper to get Boise State inside 49-43 with 5:55 remaining, however Williams answered once more with a 3-pointer for the Tigers. And when the Broncos closed to 56-51 with 1:26 left on Naje Smith’s layup, and the groups traded foul photographs, Duren’s layup pushed the margin to 60-53 to offer Memphis some respiratory room.
Alex Lomax, hobbled within the first half by an ankle harm, added some clinching free throws for the Tigers.
It was a disappointing end to a dream season for longtime coach Leon Rice, whose Boise State groups had been dumped from the NCAA Match in First 4 video games their previous two journeys. The Broncos beat San Diego State to win the Mountain West tourney title and their 27 wins set the varsity document for a single season.
“That’s a crew that’s placing it collectively,” Rice mentioned of the Tigers. “I do know they'd a tough stretch and I do know they began out in high 10 within the nation, and also you see why. However they labored by way of some stuff all year long they usually’ve turned it on proper now they usually’ve received it going.”
Memphis had the nation’s high recruiting courses, led by Duren and fellow five-star expertise Emoni Bates, however Hardaway struggled to discover a strong lineup till January — Bates had not performed since Jan. 27 due to a again harm.
The Tigers have hit their stride down the stretch, although, reaching the title sport of the American Athletic Convention tourney earlier than dropping to Houston. They usually saved that momentum going into Thursday’s first-round sport, occurring an 8-0 run early to take a 27-17 lead when Bates hit a 3-pointer with 4:26 left within the half.
Lomax hit a 3 a couple of minutes later that gave Memphis a 38-19 lead on the break, however he got here down arduous and appeared to injure his left ankle. He was limping as he headed for the Tigers’ bench however returned to begin the second half.
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