The Tigers had been eagerly anticipating the first basketball game between Arkansas and Memphis in 20 years, and it certainly lived up to the hype. Memphis (5-0) emerged victorious, securing their spot in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament title game against Villanova after defeating the 20th-ranked Razorbacks 84-79 on Thursday night. David Jones, a 6-6 wing transfer from St. John’s who plays guard for the Tigers, was instrumental in their win.

The first half was a thrilling back-and-forth affair, with 14 lead changes and eight ties as both the Razorbacks and Tigers traded baskets. Jones delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 36 points, with 19 of those points coming in the second half. The performance made the head coach prioritize Jones over his own sons.

Penny Hardway showers praise on David Jones over his sons

Coach Penny Harway praised Jones for his versatility, as he can play multiple positions and cause matchup problems for opponents. Despite efforts to contain him, Jones proved difficult to stop. He displayed remarkable efficiency in all aspects of the game, including three-point shots, field goals, and free throws.

In the post-game interview, the head coach of Memphis was seen showering praise on his key player who saved the night: “He’s definitely one of the best players to come through Memphis for sure.” It is highly remarkable that Jayden and Ashton Hardway, the head coach’s sons, are representing the same team.

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However, the unbiased nature of Penny Hardaway picking the best talent instead of rooting for nepotism by choosing his own sons who also performed well in the night gives fans the stature of him being eligible for the position of head coach.

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David Jones, The crucial player of the night

When it came to Arkansas, Jones was like a one-man demolition crew.On offense, the former DePaul and St. John’s star was everywhere. On December 10, 2021, he set a previous career best of 33 against DePaul in Louisville.Of all the offensive components, Jones’ 12 points on 14 tries at the free-throw line may have been the most important. As a team, Arkansas made 20 free throws. With a game-high five thefts, he was a nuisance on defense as well.

Memphis’ defense wreaked havoc on a team that is normally good at ball security for the second straight game. On Wednesday, the Tigers committed 18 mistakes against Michigan. Memphis racked up eighteen turnovers in their game against Arkansas, who came into the contest averaging only eleven per game.The Tigers took advantage of Arkansas’ mistakes and won by 27 points.

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