Jahvon Quinerly's late 3 gives No. 15 Memphis 78-75 win over Tulsa
Memphis guard Jahvon Quinerly (11) hits the game-winning shot against Tulsa in an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Tulsa, Okla. Credit: AP/Joey Johnson
TULSA, Okla. — Jahvon Quinerly made a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left, and No. 15 Memphis survived a late flurry from Tulsa's Cobe Williams to beat the Golden Hurricane 78-75 on Thursday night.
David Jones and Nae'Qwan Tomlin each scored 17 points for Memphis, which led 75-70 in the final minute before Williams scored five points in a three-second span. After Quinerly's 3, Williams' 3-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out.
Memphis (11-2, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) squandered a 14-point halftime lead and overcame a frustration foul by Quinerly.
After Williams made a layup to cut the deficit to 75-72, Quinerly pushed PJ Haggerty to the ground before the ball was inbounded. Williams then hit a corner 3 to tie the score with 33.4 seconds left.
Memphis worked the clock before Quinerly drained his 3 from the left wing. He finished with 11 points.
“He lost his composure, which you don’t want happening,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “But I still had confidence in him taking that last shot. Give Tulsa credit, they’ve come from behind on a lot of teams this year and they don’t give up.”
Haggerty scored 27 points for Tulsa (9-4, 0-1), which had a nine-game home winning streak snapped. Carlous Williams added 16 points, making a season-high four 3-pointers, and Cobe Williams finished with 10 points.
Memphis guard Jaykwon Walton (10) lays it in against Tulsa during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Tulsa, Okla. Credit: AP/Joey Johnson
Hagerty, a freshman, also had eight rebounds and four assists, but was just 5 of 11 on free throws. He came in shooting 81% from the line.
“Memphis has a really good team that could play deep into March,” Tulsa coach Erik Konkol said. “And we went toe-to-toe with them. There’s a lot of things we’ve got to fix, but we can gain confidence from this.”
Memphis guard Caleb Mills slipped on a drive with 2:19 to play in the first half and appeared to injure his left knee. He had to be helped from the court. Mills is the Tigers' fourth-leading scorer at 8.5 points per game.
Memphis shot 50% from the field but had 21 turnovers.
Memphis forward David Jones (8) is fouled during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tulsa, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Tulsa, Okla. Credit: AP/Joey Johnson
The Tigers led 49-35 at halftime, but Tulsa made five 3-pointers in the first 7:08 of the second half to get within 56-53.
Memphis went inside to rebuilt the lead. Tomlin made two layups and a free throw, and Jones hit a short jumper in the lane to push the lead back to 65-54.
Tulsa, though, didn't fold, and Haggerty and Carlous Williams helped the Golden Hurricane get back within five ahead of the exciting finish.
Konkol said he was confident in Cobe Williams’ tying 3 even though the senior was 2-for-12 from the field at that point.
“We drew it up for him,” Konkol said. “I have complete confidence in him. I feel like water finds its level and the next one was going to go down.”
In the first half, Memphis forced Tulsa into nine first-half turnovers, shot 64% from the field and 55% on 3-pointers, and beat Tulsa downcourt numerous times to set up easy shots.
UP NEXT
Memphis: Hosts SMU on Sunday.
Tulsa: At East Carolina on Sunday.
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