SAN ANTONIO – After playing three consecutive home games in league play, the UTSA men’s basketball team (4-13, 0-5 AMER) head back east for a nationally televised matchup with defending American Champion Memphis (8-8, 3-1 AMER) on Sunday at FedEx Forum. Playing on ESPNU in UTSA’s second national game this season, the Roadrunners and Tigers will tip off at 5 p.m. CT.
On the Air and on the Web
The game was originally scheduled for air on ESPN2, but changes to national programming due to the NFL Divisional Playoffs places Sunday’s matchup between the Roadrunners and Tigers on ESPNU, with streaming available for subscribers. On the call Sunday from FedEx Forum will be Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (analyst).
UTSA’s radio broadcast will appear on 93.3 FM The Bull with Andy Everett (play-by-play) covering the action live from Memphis. The broadcast will feature a 30-minute pregame and 15-minute postgame show – available online at The Bull 93.3 or via the free iHeartRadio app.
Memphis Athletics will also provide Live Stats.
About the UTSA Roadrunners
The Roadrunners are coming off one of their best offensive games since starting conference play, but are still looking for their first league win and hoping to snap the losing skid under the big lights at FedEx Forum. After falling behind Rice early at home on Wednesday, UTSA engineered several rallies but couldn’t quite get over the hump. UTSA has historically played Memphis close since entering the American, including last year’s 75-70 loss to the then-19th-ranked Tigers at the Convo in March.
UTSA averages 68.5 ppg on 38.5 percent shooting, grabbing an NCAA-98th-ranked 37.9 rebounds, collecting 12.7 rpg on the offensive glass to rank 75th. UTSA averages 12.8 fast break ppg. UTSA also blocks 3.9 shots per game, while opponents shoot 42.9 percent.
Sophomore forward/guard Baboucarr Njie dealt a standout performance against Rice, matching his career high of 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 4-of-4 at the line, grabbing nine rebounds with three blocks, a steal and three assists. On the season, Njie averages 7.5 ppg, is second on the team with 5.3 rpg and ranks 91st nationally with 1.5 bpg and 24 total blocks on the season. Redshirt junior guard Austin Nunez continues his rise since league play started, adding 16 points against the Owls to push his average to 9.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.4 apg – scoring 15.6 ppg in American games. Grad guard Jamir Simpson remains the top scorer with 15.9 ppg and 4.2 rpg, while freshman forward Kaidon Rayfield tops the boards at 6.0 rpg at No. 10 in the American.
About the Memphis Tigers
Working back from a challenging start against a tough non-conference, the Tigers are 8-8 but have opened American play 3-1 after falling at Florida Atlantic and fending off Temple at home (55-53) at home in the last week. The Tigers have won four of their last five after dropping three straight to power conference opposition in mid-December.
An extremely efficient offense that can play fast and in the half court, Memphis has one of the more experienced rosters in the nation in the eighth year under Penny Hardaway. The Tigers average 73.2 ppg, allowing 72.8 opposing ppg, shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three. Leaning on its defense and allowing a nationally 57th-ranked 41.0 percent from the field, while adding 14.1 forced turnovers and making 4.3 bpg. They average 37.2 rpg but hit the offensive glass extra hard, ranking 41st at 13.4 offensive rpg.
Senior McNeese transfer Sincere Parker is a big force for the Tigers coming off the bench for 9.1 ppg, but senior Kansas State transfer Dug McDaniel is the centerpiece, leading the team with 13.8 ppg, second in the American with 4.9 apg (70 total) and leading the league in steals (2.9), shooting 38.1 percent from the field and grabbing 3.9 rpg. Curtis Givens III and Aaron Bradshaw chip in 8.8 and 8.2 ppg, respectively, while local sophomore guard Julius Thedford tops the Tigers on the boards at 5.4 rpg.
Series History
Just the fourth meeting between these programs, dating back to 1993 in Memphis’ Pyramid. Since joining the American, the series has been closely played, but the Tigers stay up 3-0. Last time at FedEx Forum in 2023-24, the Roadrunners were in front for 20 minutes of regulation and saw 13th-ranked Memphis knot things up at 94 to end regulation – the Tigers pulling away for a 107-101 overtime win on Jan. 11, 2024. Last season at the Convo, 16th-ranked Memphis held off UTSA at the line for the 75-70 win in the tightly-contested Fat Tuesday matchup.
Up Next
UTSA remains on the road and travels directly to Denton, Texas, making the first of two meetings with North Texas, taking on the Mean Green on Wednesday at the Super Pit. On Saturday, UTSA gets the rematch with Temple at the Convo for Rowdy Rodeo.
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