The Memphis Tigers extended their season Saturday in Denton, Texas, with a win over Dayton in the National Invitation Tournament. The Tigers pulled away with a 10-0 run late in the second half after exchanging the lead 14 times with the Flyers. Back-to-back three-pointers by Boogie Ellis and Lester Quinones put Memphis up 62-58 with just under six minutes to play and the Tigers would not trail again.
The win improves Memphis to 17-8 while Dayton’s season ends at 14-10. The Tigers will play Boise State Thursday in the NIT quarterfinals. A win would put them in the tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 2005. (The NIT’s field was reduced from 32 teams to 16 this season with Covid restrictions in mind.)
Landers Nolley scored 10 points in the game’s first six minutes and led the Tigers with 21 for the game. The sophomore transfer from Virginia Tech drained four three-pointers as the Tigers hit 10 of 26 shots from long distance. (They were 7 for 11 in the second half.) Lester Quinones added 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. DeAndre Williams scored 12 points and D.J. Jeffries came off the bench for 10.
Elijah Weaver came off the Dayton bench to lead the Flyers with 16 points. Dayton couldn’t compete with Memphis on the glass, the Tigers pulling down 44 rebounds (16 offensive) to the Flyers’ 26.
