Freshman leads Tigers past Bearcats

Jeffries scores 18 to put Memphis over Cincinnati From the Memphis Tigers gotigersgo.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. — He’d been in and out of action the past few weeks, but Thursday night against Cincinnati in an American Athletic Conference game at FedExForum, D.J. Jeffries returned to the productive player he was in November and December.

Jeffries, a 6’7” freshman, scored a teamhigh 18 points – including four 3-pointers – to lead No. 22 Memphis to a 60-49 victory over Cincinnati. Jeffries had missed the Jan. 4 Georgia game with flu symptoms and not been himself in the UofM’s next two games: at Wichita State and USF. Thursday he was a huge factor in the Tigers’ win. He made six of 13 shots, most coming when the UofM needed them most.

“That’s what we wanted,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “He made six of them. He was 4-for-10 from three. When he comes out aggressive that helps us. Eighteen points — we need D.J.

to be aggressive like that every game.”

The Tigers (14-3, 3-1 AAC) beat the Bearcats (10-7, 3-2 AAC) for the first time since February 2016, snapping a six-game losing streak to UC.

Precious Achiuwa, another member of the UofM’s top-ranked recruiting class of 2019, contributed his sixth straight double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) to set a conference record and Lester Quinones added 13 points.

“Obviously a great win,” Hardaway said.

“The way the kids responded was phenomenal. And to get this win on national TV was definitely gratifying.”

Jeffries had scored only six points in the previous two games: a loss at Wichita State and a win at USF.

“When I came back for Wichita State, I knew I wasn’t at 100 percent,” Jeffries said. “This week I came back (at practices) and felt 100 percent.”

Jeffries’ contributions were something firstyear Cincinnati coach John Brannen didn’t expect.

“He had a great game,” Brannen said. “Hitting those 3s at the beginning shocked us a little, put us on our heels.”

As they have most of the season, the Tigers held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. The Bearcats were 18-of-60 (30 percent). UC was held to a season-low point total, too. Memphis ended the game on a 10-0 run.

Memphis and Cincinnati battled back and forth until the Tigers put together a late 10-2 run to build their 11-point halftime lead.

Jeffries had 10 points at the half.

After being off this weekend, the Tigers resume conference play Wednesday evening at Tulsa.