Memphis faced a tough loss against North Texas, falling 76-69 at The Super Pit in Denton. The game had its moments, with the Tigers initially racing out to an 8-0 lead, thanks to quick three-pointers from Julius Thedford and Curtis Givens III.
Despite a solid start, Memphis finished the first half trailing 33-32 after a late surge from North Texas. The discrepancy in free throws was stark; North Texas went to the line 41 times, scoring 31, while Memphis only had 15 attempts.
In the second half, Memphis showed promise, pulling away with a 16-3 run led by Sincere Parker, who scored 11 points during that stretch. The Tigers led 67-62 with just over five minutes left, but their offense crumbled as they failed to score a field goal in the closing moments. North Texas finished strong, closing the game on a 14-2 run.
Parker was the standout for Memphis, finishing with 20 points, with 18 of those after halftime. However, Memphis’s struggles included 16 turnovers that allowed North Texas to score 28 points off those mistakes. This is a trend noted by many analysts, as turnovers can drastically shift game momentum.
Historically, this is not a new issue for Memphis. In past seasons, the team has often faltered in late-game situations when turnovers pile up. In fact, according to recent statistics from the NCAA, teams committing more than 15 turnovers per game tend to win only about 30% of their matchups.
Defensively, Memphis managed to limit North Texas to only 20% from three-point range but still allowed them to shoot nearly 45% from the field overall. Bench production was another bright spot, with 32 points contributed by substitutes, but overall rebounding and assist numbers (only 11 assists) fell short.
The Tigers will look to shake off this loss when they head to Logan, Utah, to face Utah State on Valentine’s Day. As they prepare for the next game, Memphis must focus on reducing turnovers and improving free-throw efficiency to turn close games into victories.
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