Memphis @ Tulsa preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2018 ) Memphis 67, Tulsa 64

Memphis is in the middle of a crowded race for the American Athletic Conference title after winning four of the last five games and looks to avoid a letdown when it visits struggling Tulsa on Wednesday night. The Tigers put an exclamation mark of their run by routing Central Florida 77-57 on Sunday, handing the Knights a second conference loss by holding them to 37.9 percent shooting and forcing 15 turnovers.

“In today’s game, it’s not popular to play defense,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal. “But to hold a really good team to 57 points, that shows you what can be done. And it was done with energy, toughness and it was consistent.” The Tigers, who won two of three against Tulsa last season, lead the American in scoring (83.3) and the Golden Hurricane managed no more than 65 points in their five losses over the last six games. Tulsa lost for only the second time in 12 home games Sunday, falling 77-65 against 13th-ranked Houston while getting outrebounded 49-24 and shooting 41.5 percent from the field. “I think our defense was on point, but it is about consistency of guarding the 3-point line,” Golden Hurricane coach Frank Haith told reporters after allowing 11 makes from 3-point range. “When you take 35 3s. … those are long rebounds and they are tough ones to get. … We need our guards to help (track) down those loose rebounds and those are the ones we are struggling to get.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNews

ABOUT MEMPHIS (13-7, 5-2 American): The Tigers have received balanced scoring most of the season and lately they are getting more depth as Mike Parks Jr. scored 13 off the bench Sunday while fellow senior Raynere Thornton notched his second double-double in three games. “Coach has told me not to worry about scoring, just worry about rebounds,” Thornton told the Commercial Appeal. “The scoring just comes along with it.” Senior guard Jeremiah Martin leads the team in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.3) while senior forward Kyvon Davenport averages 14.6 points and a team-best 7.4 rebounds.

ABOUT TULSA (12-9, 2-6): The Golden Hurricane will need to score to pull out of this slump, but their work on the glass is also a major concern as they sit last in the American in rebounding margin (minus-3.8). “We do a good job of making them shoot a contested shot or having a shot that comes off the rim,” sophomore forward Jeriah Horne told the Tulsa World, “but then you do have to box out and need to get to the boards and secure that possession.” Senior guard DaQuan Jeffries leads the team in scoring (13.6), rebounds (5.6) and 3-point makes (32) while junior forward Martins Igbanu adds 11.9 points per game.

TIP-INS

1. Horne scored 15 against Houston and had 27 versus Connecticut on Jan. 16 in Tulsa’s only win during a six-game stretch.

2. Memphis freshman G Tyler Harris leads the team with 51 makes from 3-point range and connected on four Sunday.

3. Golden Hurricane senior G Sterling Taplin leads the team in assists overall (4.5) and is 15-of-28 from 3-point range in league play.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 74, Memphis 72