Final Stats (PDF) | Coach Mo Postgame

Memphis, Tenn. - The Jackson State men's basketball team fell to the Memphis Tigers 77-94 to open the 2023–24 season Monday night at the FedEx Form. Ken Evens Jr. led the Tigers (0-1) in scoring with 18 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. 

The Tigers shot 46 percent from the floor, making 29 of 63 shots. Joining Evans in double-figure scoring were Chase Adams, Coltie Young, and Keijuan Johnson, who scored 16, 13, and 10, respectively. 

The two teams battled back and forth in the first half of the game, but then the Tigers used a 12-2 run to take a 12-7 lead into the game's first media timeout. 

From that point on, the two teams would trade baskets before Memphis (1-0) took another lead, but the Tigers pulled back to within two points with a score of 31-33 with 6:02 to play in the half. Memphis would score 11 straight points to extend their lead before a three-pointer by Keiveon Hunt snapped Memphis' run. 

Memphis took a 36-47 lead into the half. Despite being down at the break, the Tigers shot 46 percent from the floor and had a lead of six points at one point in the half. The first half also saw three ties and two lead changes, with Jackson State leading for four minutes and forty-four seconds.  

Jaykown Walton led Memphis with a game-high 19 points, but he was limited to just two in the second half. He also accounted for five of Memphis' 16 turnovers. Jackson State scored 12 points off the 16 Memphis turnovers and 26 points in the paint. The bench for the Tigers produced 19 points in the outing.   

The Tigers will begin their journey west as they travel to the Sunshine State to face their next three opponents, beginning with San Diego on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. CST in a game that can be seen live on ESPN+.