SEATTLE, Wash. — The Memphis Tigers entered Friday’s NCAA Tournament first-round match-up short-handed without veteran guards Tyrese Hunter and Dante Harris.
However, Memphis battled and brought the energy early in the first half, fueled by the efforts of Dain Dainja and Colby Rogers.
Dainja played the entire first half, scoring 15 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Dainja would finish with 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting with seven rebounds in 39 minutes.
Rogers stepped up on the biggest stage with 18 points and four of seven makes from behind the arc.
AAC Player of the Year and All-American PJ Haggerty struggled in his first NCAA Tournament game, shooting 7 for 23 with 18 points.
The Tigers led 36-31 after the first 20 minutes of action, but the Rams responded with an immediate run in the second half.
Memphis’s game plan of keeping CSU’s top scorer, Nique Clifford, in check worked for most of the game. Clifford fell short of his season average with 14 points on 3 of 13 shooting.
But Kyan Evans provided the spark that lifted the Rams over the Tigers with seven made threes and led all scorers with 23 points.
Memphis led in most team stat categories but committed 16 turnovers which were costly in the comeback.
Memphis finishes the season 29-6.
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