Man, if you were looking for a high-flying offensive clinic at the FedExForum on Wednesday night, you definitely walked into the wrong building. But if you like old-school, grind-it-out basketball where every single bucket feels like it was earned in a back-alley brawl, the latest memphis state basketball score delivered exactly what you needed. The Tigers managed to scrape by with a 55-53 win over Temple, but honestly, it was a lot uglier than that final margin suggests.
This wasn’t just any win. It snapped Temple’s seven-game winning streak and shoved Memphis into a massive five-way tie for first place in the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers are now 8-8 overall and 3-1 in league play.
The Numbers Behind the Memphis State Basketball Score
Let's talk about the shooting. Or rather, the lack thereof. Memphis shot a season-low 33.9% from the floor. You read that right. Usually, when a team shoots that poorly, they're looking at a 20-point blowout loss. But the defense was so suffocating that Temple didn't fare much better, hitting only 34% of their own shots.
It was a night where the rims felt like they had lids on them. Memphis went 6-of-24 from three-point land, which is basically 25%. Temple was even worse, stumbling through a 2-of-19 performance from deep. That’s 10.5%. In a modern era where everyone wants to play like the Warriors, this was a throwback to 1994.
📖 Related: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
The standout for the Tigers was Curtis Givens III. In his first start since mid-November, he led the way with 12 points. He had this crazy 70-second burst in the second half where he scored eight straight points, turning a tight four-point lead into a double-digit cushion. Sincere Parker came off the bench to add 10 points, including a massive driving layup with just over a minute left that basically iced the game.
The Aaron Bradshaw Injury Cloud
While the final memphis state basketball score goes in the win column, it came at a potentially massive cost. Aaron Bradshaw, the 7-foot-1 junior who just dropped a career-high 21 points against FAU a few days ago, went down hard in the first half.
It looked bad. He was trying to grab a pass in the paint, hit the floor, and immediately looked to be in significant pain. He had to be helped to the locker room and didn't return. Coach Penny Hardaway didn't have much of a definitive update immediately after the game, but the vibe in the arena definitely shifted once the big man exited.
👉 See also: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Without Bradshaw, the Tigers got bullied on the glass. Temple outrebounded Memphis 41-35. It’s hard to win when you're giving up second chances like that, but the Tigers made up for it by forcing 14 turnovers and turning those into 16 points.
Turning Points and Close Calls
Memphis actually led by as many as 13 points with about 12 minutes left. Most people figured they’d coast from there. Nope. This is Memphis basketball; nothing is ever that simple.
- The 12-3 Run: Sparked by Givens III, this was the only time the offense actually looked fluid.
- The Temple Surge: The Owls cut it to a two-point game three different times in the final six minutes.
- The Final Shot: Temple’s Jordan Mason had a runner at the buzzer to tie it. It fell short. FedExForum breathed a collective sigh of relief.
What This Means for the AAC Standings
Basically, the American is a total mess right now—in the best way possible. With Tulane losing to UAB, there are no undefeated teams left in the conference.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Currently, Memphis, Temple, Tulane, South Florida, and Florida Atlantic are all sitting at 3-1. Every single game is going to feel like a playoff matchup for the next month. The Tigers have shown they can win when their stars are firing, and now they've proven they can win when they can't throw a pea into the ocean.
One thing that sort of saved the night was the bench production. Memphis got 29 points from their reserves. When your starters are struggling to find a rhythm—and your star center goes down—you need that depth. William Whorton and Quante Berry chipped in five each, and even Ashton Hardaway provided some defensive spark with two blocks.
Looking Ahead to UTSA
The Tigers don't have much time to celebrate this rock fight. They’ve got UTSA coming into the FedExForum this Sunday, January 18th.
The big question, obviously, is Bradshaw’s knee. If he's out for an extended period, Penny is going to have to get creative with the rotation. We’ve already seen 12 different starting lineups this season, which is kind of insane. It’s clear this team is still trying to find its soul, but sitting at the top of the conference standings while "finding yourself" isn't a bad place to be.
Actionable Insights for Tigers Fans:
- Keep a close eye on the injury reports for Aaron Bradshaw and Julius Thedford (who missed the Temple game with an ankle issue) before the UTSA tip-off.
- Watch for Dug McDaniel to take more scoring responsibility; he had 9 rebounds against Temple but only 5 points. They'll need his scoring if the frontcourt is thin.
- Check the AAC standings daily; the tie-breaker scenarios are going to become a major talking point by early February.