When Dain Dainja poses a hazard to opponents on the inside, No. 18 Memphis is likely to be as harmful as some other group.
Dainja actually was at his finest Sunday throughout the Tigers’ 84-65 victory over Florida Atlantic, tying his profession excessive with 22 factors and ending only one rebound off his season excessive with 11.
The hassle was a far cry from his 4 factors and one rebound throughout Memphis’ 84-79 time beyond regulation loss at Wichita State on Feb. 16 within the Tigers’ earlier sport.
Dainja and the Tigers will intention for one more massive sport on Wednesday night time once they attempt to keep atop the American Athletic Convention with a matchup towards visiting Rice.
Averaging 12.8 factors and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per sport, Dainja — an Illinois switch — has loved one of the best season of his school profession. However his measly efficiency within the loss on the Shockers ate at him whereas Memphis (22-5, 12-2) sat idle for every week.
“I wish to win,” he mentioned. “I am simply leaving it out on the ground each sport. I simply wish to make that my mentality.”
Tigers coach Penny Hardaway appreciated Dainja’s efficiency. He preferred his response to his sport towards Wichita State much more. As an alternative of sulking in regards to the lack of manufacturing, Dainja stepped up his degree of labor within the movie room and through observe.
“It simply exhibits me that he cares,” Hardaway mentioned of the 6-foot-9 Dainja. “That is the one factor about this group that I do perceive, that the fellows care. They wish to come again and do higher. I do not actually suppose it is lots of people that may guard him one-on-one.”
PJ Haggerty falls into that class, too. The participant who contributes 21.3 ppg obtained his common towards Florida Atlantic and ranks sixth in Division I in scoring. Tyrese Hunter provides 14.7 ppg.
Whereas the Tigers look to safe a attainable top-four seed for subsequent month’s NCAA Event, the Owls (13-15, 4-11) wish to keep out of the AAC basement. They took a step in that course on Saturday, thumping Tulsa 71-50 to finish a four-game shedding streak.
Trae Broadnax led the best way with 16 factors on 7-of-13 taking pictures from the sector, whereas Kellen Amos and Jimmy Oladokun got here off the bench for 13 and 10, respectively. Amos added eight rebounds as Rice earned a 41-28 benefit on the glass.
What happy coach Rob Lanier essentially the most was that the Owls had been so stingy on protection.
“The factor that stands out to me instantly is the defensive field-goal proportion. They (Tulsa) shot 37 p.c, harking back to the best way we began the best way,” Lanier mentioned. “This group is getting more durable mentally, and the bond is getting stronger by means of these experiences.”
Rice’s file may simply be a couple of wins higher. In a 2-5 February, the Owls’ losses have come by a complete of 16 factors, together with 86-83 on Feb. 2 in its first conflict with Memphis. Rice additionally took UAB, which is tied for second within the league, to the wire earlier than shedding 90-89 final Wednesday.
The Tigers personal a 10-2 lead within the all-time collection, together with 4-1 in Memphis.
–Area Degree Media
