National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Memphis 90, North Carolina Central 51
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 13, 2021
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Officials: # Doug Shows, # James Baker, # Josue Nieves
Attendance: 12893

Led by its phenom freshmen Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren, No. 12 Memphis cruised to a 90-51 victory over visiting North Carolina Central on Saturday night.

Bates totaled 15 points and four rebounds, while Duren had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis led wire to wire.

Bates and Duren, two top 10 recruits in this year's class, set the tone early for the Tigers (2-0) who led by as many as 49 points.

Memphis, which is coming off winning the NIT championship last season, stymied NC Central shooters throughout the contest both inside and on the perimeter.

The Eagles (0-2) struggled to shoot even without Memphis' defensive tenacity, finishing just 17 of 65 overall from the field (26.2 percent) and a dismal 3 for 25 from 3-point range (12.0 percent).

Memphis shot 50 percent and went 7 of 19 from 3-point range.

The Tigers blocked 13 shots, led by three each from Duren and Malcolm Dandridge.

Landers Nolley II, Tyler Harris and Lester Quinones each scored in double figures off the bench. Nolley finished with 12 points while Harris tallied 11 and Quinones finished with 10 points.

Josh Minott just missed a double-double finishing with nine points and nine rebounds.

Eric Boone was the lone NC Central player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points to go along with five rebounds.

The Eagles are coming off a 5-9 season during a shortened 2020-21 slate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
North Carolina Central   Memphis
Eric Boone 13 Scoring Emoni Bates 15
Marque Maultsby 2 Assists Earl Timberlake 6
Cameron Butler 6 Rebounds Jalen Duren 10
Eric Boone 4 Free Throws Made Emoni Bates 7
Dontavius King 3 Steals Alex Lomax 3
Dontavius King 2 Blocks Malcolm Dandridge 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
North Carolina Central 51 26.2 3-25 14-23 6 35 4 12 26
Memphis 90 50.0 7-19 31-47 13 42 13 12 19