5 takeaways from Memphis basketball's big win over East Carolina

Damion Baugh’s 3-pointer with four seconds left in the first half sent a wave of good vibes through the rest of the Memphis basketball team Sunday.

When East Carolina’s last-second, three-quarter court heave missed, the Tigers were all smiles and rode that wave into their locker room inside Williams Arena. They were still smiling by the end of the game, beating the Pirates 80-53, marking the second time this season Memphis has won back-to-back games.

Coming off a 20-point victory over Wichita State three days earlier, the Tigers (8-5, 4-2 AAC) brought that momentum to Greenville, North Carolina, against and overmatched an undermanned ECU (7-4, 1-4). The Pirates, who came into the game having played just two games since Dec. 22 due to issues with COVID-19, had just eight scholarship players available and were also missing their head coach, Joe Dooley.

Memphis faces a quick turnaround, welcoming SMU to FedExForum on Tuesday (6 p.m., ESPNU).

Here are five takeaways from the win over ECU.

First half just like the last

The Tigers put their foot on the gas pedal in the second half of Thursday’s victory versus the Shockers, scoring 47 points and shooting 57.6% from the field.

Penny Hardaway’s team picked up Sunday right where it left off. Tied with ECU 10-10 five minutes in, Memphis was propelled on an 25-4 run by the first of two D.J. Jeffries 3-pointers. The Tigers were 4-of-8 from beyond the arc during that stretch and 11 for 25 in the game.

Three-point field goal efficiency has not been among Memphis’ strong suits this season. The team has made fewer than eight 3-pointers in eight of its 13 games this season. But things are starting to look up. The Tigers are 22 for 43 in their last two games.

Sharing is caring

Selfishness was something that cost the Tigers time and again early in the season.

Only twice before the win over Wichita State did Memphis finish a game with more than 20 assists. But the Tigers have gotten into the sharing mood.

The Tigers, after putting up 22 assists (on 28 made field goals) against the Shockers, were back at it Sunday. Memphis was credited with 20 assists (on 20 makes), tied for the most over a two-game span since collecting 42 in wins over Central Arkansas and Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 4 and 8.

More Moussa Cisse

Freshman center Moussa Cisse put together another standout showing in the win, leading the Tigers by putting up a career-high 15 points and hauling in nine rebounds. He fouled out with 3:08 left in the game.

Memphis was intent on getting the 6-11 former Lausanne star involved early. Coming off scoring a dozen points in the second half against Wichita State, Cisse attempted the team’s first three field goals, making one. He finished the first half with eight points.

Not-so-great second half

As well as the Tigers played in the first half – 52.9% from the field, 53.3% from three, seven turnovers – the second half was a little less glowing.

Memphis shot 45.8% from the field, was just 3-of-10 from long range and committed 10 more turnovers.

The Pirates outscored the Tigers 35-31 in the second half.

Stingy Tigers

Memphis has developed a reputation under Hardaway for being one of the stingiest defenses in the country. 

Never has that been more evident than its last five games. The Tigers, who held ECU to 53 points in Sunday's win, have kept each of its last five AAC opponents to 58 points or fewer. 

The last time a Memphis team accomplished such a string of defensive success was the 2007-08 season. The Tigers kept ECU, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss and Tulsa (Jan. 9-23, 2008) to 58 points or fewer. 

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