Samford @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2012 ) Samford 54, Memphis 65

Memphis hopes to build off a dramatic victory last time out when it continues a favorable stretch of the schedule at home against struggling Samford on Tuesday night. The Tigers rallied from 10 points down in the final seven minutes of regulation to tie the game and Jeremiah Martin hit two free throws with 2.8 seconds left in the second overtime to beat Mercer 83-81 on Saturday for their fourth win in five games.

“When we come out, we just have to have that mentality that we had in the second half,” Memphis senior forward Jimario Rivers told reporters after the team’s first of seven at home during an eight-game span. “I feel like as we play more games it will start working out.” Tigers coach Tubby Smith said he liked the heart and toughness his team displayed against Mercer as it won despite 34.3 percent shooting from the field while draining 30-of-34 from the free-throw line. Martin has scored at least 15 points in five consecutive games and leads Memphis at 17.2 per contest as the Tigers prepare to take on Samford, which won 20 games last season. The Bulldogs, who were routed by Arkansas and LSU earlier in the season, have lost four of their last five after getting pounded at Jacksonville State 89-58 on Sunday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3, CW30

ABOUT SAMFORD (2-6): Senior guard Demetrius Denzel-Dyson was the only player to score in double figures Sunday with 18 points and leads the team overall at 14.4 while draining 19-of-44 from 3-point range. Junior guard Justin Coleman was just 3-of-10 from the field last time out, but averages 13.4 points along with a team-high 4.8 assists, and senior Alex Thompson (10.9) also scores in double figures. The Bulldogs must improve defensively as they are allowing 85 points per game and 53.1 percent shooting from the field overall - 40.5 from 3-point range.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (4-2): The Tigers have to shoot the ball better if they are going to reach their goals after connecting on just 41.2 percent of their shots from the field and 26.8 from 3-point range in the first six games. Rivers has had the best marksmanship early on at 52.1 percent while averaging 11.2 points after scoring a career high-tying 18 against Mercer on 5-of-11 from the field. Junior forward Kyvon Davenport is contributing 13 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game in his first season with the Tigers, scoring in double figures all six games.

TIP-INS

1. Memphis junior G Kareem Brewton Jr. scored 10 points against Mercer after averaging just five the previous four games.

2. Samford’s 6-7 senior forward Eric Adams leads the team in rebounds (5.8) and steals (1.6).

3. The Tigers won the previous meeting against Samford 65-54 in 2012.

PREDICTION: Memphis 76, Samford 62