5 things we learned in Memphis basketball's victory over Central Arkansas

Central Arkansas’ 3-point attempt caromed off the rim and bounced out of bounds, past the area where fans normally sit courtside and under the FedExForum’s plaza-level seating.

The irretrievable basketball suited Memphis just fine. Before then, the Tigers (3-2) were 16-of-41 from the field . In the four-plus minutes after a replacement ball was fetched, Memphis shot 5-of-6 and went on an 11-0 run that sparked an 85-68 win over the Bears (0-1) on Friday night.

Landers Nolley II was Memphis’ leading scorer again with 23 points, the third time in four games the Virginia Tech transfer has eclipsed the 20-point mark.

Here are five takeaways from the contest.

D.J. Jeffries gets going

Memphis sophomore wing D.J. Jeffries came into the game slumping by his standards, averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

The Tigers got him involved early. Like, first-play-of-the-game early. Two passes after Moussa Cisse won the opening tipoff, the ball found Jeffries waiting under the basket. His reverse layup got the scoring started. Less than 12 minutes into the game, Jeffries was up to nine points — more than his total in three of his first four games.

Jeffries, employing a renewed aggressiveness, finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.  

Jayden Hardaway stays steady

Sophomore guard Jayden Hardaway, already in the running for the most pleasant surprise for Memphis this season, gave the Tigers another boost.

The son of Tigers coach Penny Hardaway scored eight points (one off his career-high) in 18 minutes on 4-of-6 shooting. His strong performance comes on the heels of back-to-back five-point outings.

More disruptive defense

Hardaway set out to reinvigorate the Tigers after losing two out of three at the Crossover Classic last week.

Mission accomplished. In Wednesday’s win over Arkansas State, Memphis benefited from 18 Red Wolves turnovers. Against Central Arkansas, the Tigers turned up the heat even more.

The Bears committed 30 turnovers, 17 of which came via Memphis steals. The most turnovers committed by a Tigers opponent is 39 (Tennessee, 1989). New Orleans' 28 turnovers were the most Memphis forced last season. 

Tigers a little sloppy themselves

Memphis

committed 20 turnovers that Central Arkansas converted into 17 points. 

Central Arkansas used one five-minute span in the first half to go on a 13-2 run. While Memphis went 1-for-9 from the field during that stretch, it also committed six turnovers to help the Bears take a 21-17 lead.

Better from deep

Memphis found itself mired in a rough two-game three-point shooting patch coming into Friday’s contest, hitting just 12 of 49.

But the Tigers fixed reversed that trend.

Aided by Nolley’s 4-for-10 night, Memphis was 9-of-29 from long range — a 31% clip.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.