Tigers' Losing Streak Reaches Six After Loss to East Carolina

Memphis falls to 12-17 on the season as East Carolina's Jordan Riley records a 31-point double-double

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team dropped their sixth straight game, falling 84-68 to the East Carolina Pirates. East Carolina's Jordan Riley led the way with a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double, as the Pirates outrebounded the Tigers 38-30 and shot 53.6% from the field. Memphis now sits at 12-17 on the season and ninth in the American Athletic Conference standings.

Why it matters

This loss marks the first time since the 1999 season that the Tigers have lost six consecutive games, putting their chances of making the conference tournament in jeopardy. Head coach Penny Hardaway will need to find a way to get his team back on track with just a few games remaining in the regular season.

The details

The Tigers fell behind early, trailing 44-30 at halftime. They were unable to mount a serious comeback in the second half, as East Carolina maintained a double-digit lead for most of the final 20 minutes. Memphis shot just 37.3% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range, while the Pirates shot an efficient 53.6% overall and 50% from deep.

  • The loss was Memphis' sixth straight, the first time they've had a streak that long since the 1999 season.
  • The Tigers now sit at 12-17 on the season and ninth in the American Athletic Conference standings.

The players

Jordan Riley

The East Carolina junior forward recorded a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead the Pirates to the upset victory.

Penny Hardaway

The Memphis head coach will need to find a way to get his team back on track with the conference tournament approaching.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to end this losing streak and get back to playing our brand of basketball. The conference tournament is still within reach, but we need to turn things around quickly.”

— Penny Hardaway, Head Coach, Memphis Tigers (Memphis Commercial Appeal)

What’s next

The Tigers will host the South Florida Bulls on Thursday, February 23rd, in a crucial conference matchup. Memphis will look to avenge their 87-66 loss to the Bulls earlier this season and keep their conference tournament hopes alive.

The takeaway

This extended losing streak for the Memphis Tigers is a concerning development, as they now find themselves on the outside looking in for the American Athletic Conference tournament. Head coach Penny Hardaway must find a way to rally his team and get them back to playing their brand of basketball if they want to extend their season beyond the regular finale.