The metronomic start to Penny Hardaway’s coaching career with the Tigers continues. Win, loss, win, loss, win, and Sunday evening in Orlando, a loss to the College of Charleston.
Tyler Harris‘s three-point attempt with two seconds left on the clock fell short, giving the Cougars a win in the fifth-place game at the AdvoCare Invitational. The freshman guard was a primary reason Memphis battled Charleston — a 2018 NCAA tournament team — to the finish, with seven treys and a team-high 25 points.
The Tigers led at the half (42-40) but only got to the free-throw line 14 times (making 8), while the Cougars hit 17 of 21 shots from the foul line. Grant Riller scored 32 points to lead Charleston and Brevin Galloway added 15 on five three-point shots.
Jeremiah Martin‘s layup with a minute to play gave the Tigers the lead (75-74) and moved the senior guard from Mitchell High School into the Tigers’ 1,000-point club. But Jarrell Brantley and Riller each hit two free throws in the game’s closing seconds to help Charleston improve to 5-2 for the season. Memphis freshman Alex Lomax was called for a moving screen with the Tigers down a point (76-76) with 16 seconds left.
The Tigers (3-3) will have five days off before traveling back to Florida where they’ll face Texas Tech next Saturday in the Hoop Hall Miami Invitational. They return to FedExForum on December 4th for the first of seven consecutive home games (against South Dakota State).
