Memphis followed up the momentum from Thursday’s road win at UAB with its most complete performance in weeks, rolling past Charlotte 77 to 54 on Sunday at FedExForum. The win moves the Tigers to 12 and 11 overall and 7 and 4 in AAC play, and just as important, keeps them trending in the right direction as the schedule tightens and every night starts to feel like March.
This two game burst is starting to look like something more than a one off. The formula Sunday was simple and convincing: defend, rebound, share, and make Charlotte play in the mud.
The first half tone: defense, physicality, and a lead that never felt fragile
Memphis held Charlotte to 17 points in the first half and took a 37 to 17 advantage into the break. That’s the kind of half that changes the entire feel of a game. It takes pressure off the offense, lets you play through mistakes, and forces the opponent to chase. Charlotte never got comfortable.
The numbers back it up. Charlotte shot 37 percent (21 for 57) from the field and 22 percent (7 for 32) from three. Memphis did not have to be perfect offensively. It just had to be steady, and it was.
Balanced scoring, led by Aaron Bradshaw and Julius Thedford
Memphis spread the scoring across the rotation, with five Tigers in double figures:
Aaron Bradshaw: 16 points (7 for 11 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks Julius Thedford: 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists Curtis Givens III: 10 points (4 for 7 FG), 4 assists Ashton Hardaway: 10 points (3 for 5 FG), 3 for 3 FT Sincere Parker: 11 points in 20 minutes
Bradshaw’s impact went beyond the box score. When he is finishing around the rim and protecting it on the other end, Memphis has a different ceiling. Thedford gave the Tigers exactly what winning teams get from veterans in February: rebounds, physicality, and calm decision making, including four assists from the frontcourt spot.
The turning the season angle: now it is about stacking wins
At 12 and 11, Memphis is positioned to keep climbing. Sunday’s win came with two signs that travel.
They did not rely on one guy going nuclear. After Parker’s 40 point eruption at UAB earlier in the week, the question was simple: can Memphis win with a more balanced night? Sunday answered that. Parker scored 11, and the offense stayed on track because multiple players carried stretches. They won the possession battle. Memphis finished with 41 rebounds to Charlotte’s 32, and the Tigers dished 17 assists, a strong indicator of ball movement and shot quality.
If Memphis keeps defending at this level, especially holding teams to tough shooting nights, the Tigers give themselves a real chance to keep adding wins quickly.
What it means in the AAC race
Charlotte came in as one of the conference’s better teams, and Memphis did more than win. It put a clear marker down in a league where the middle is crowded.
Memphis is currently tied for fourth place in the AAC standings with Charlotte at 7 and 4 in conference play.
The next step is obvious: stack it. The Tigers have an AAC road game coming up at North Texas on Thursday, February 12, which is exactly the kind of matchup that will show how real this momentum is.
Bottom line
Memphis looked like a team that knows what it needs to be: tough, connected, and physical. Two straight wins create a path. Keep climbing in AAC play, and “turning the season around” starts to feel like the story, not just the slogan.
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