Memphis basketball falls at Georgia. Here are five takeaways from the game

ATHENS, Ga. — Penny Hardaway, decked out in a suit for the first time since before the pandemic, called timeout with 44.7 seconds remaining, his Memphis basketball team down three.

The coach removed his coat, sat his team down and drew up a play. It didn’t work. The 19th-ranked Tigers (5-2) lost for the second time in as many games, falling 82-79 to Georgia (3-6) at Stegeman Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Six Memphis players scored in double-figures, but it wasn’t enough as Kario Oquendo led Georgia with 24 points. The Bulldogs shot 48% from the field, a season-best by a Memphis opponent. It was Georgia coach Tom Crean's 400th career victory.

Here are five takeaways from Wednesday's contest.

When the tide turned

Landers Nolley II’s 3-pointer with 11:48 left in the game put Memphis up 50-48, a lead the Tigers maintained until the 1:56 mark.

That’s when Jabri Abdur-Rahim drilled a 3-pointer to put Georgia up 78-77. Twenty-two seconds later, Oquendo stole the ball from Emoni Bates and converted the fast-break dunk for a three-point lead.

Memphis attempted just two field goals inside the final 2:40, including what would've been a game-tying 3-pointer from Bates as time expired.

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Defense cures early offensive ills

Hardaway’s efforts to rejuvenate an anemic offense, the early returns were anything but positive. The Tigers made just four of their first 15 field goal attempts and only eight of their first 26.

But Memphis closed the first half on a 15-6 run, punctuated by four baskets on four straight possessions. To what do the Tigers owe their reversal of fortune? Defense, naturally.

The Tigers, which forced 11 turnovers in the first half, turned up the heat in the five minutes before halftime. Trailing 28-21, Memphis forced six turnovers over the final 4:29, which included a 47-second stretch where the Bulldogs gave up possession four times.

Speaking of the offense

However, once the Tigers found their footing on the offensive end, the results reflected the changes Hardaway made.

The more structured scheme is designed to promote ball movement. Memphis finished with more assists (15) than its had in any game since the season opener. It is also intended to cut down on the number of turnovers, something the Tigers have struggled with all season. The Tigers committed only 11, their fewest all season.

But defense fades late

While the Tigers' defense sparked their offense in the first half, the second half was a different story.

After forcing 11 turnovers before the break, Georgia committed just two in the second half. The Bulldogs also shot 52% from the field in the second half, 44% from long range and 81.8% from the free throw line.

The Alex Lomax of old

Hardaway was asked Tuesday about guard Alex Lomax’s lack of progress. The senior entered play Wednesday averaging 5.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. But his 3-to-2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio has been a point of much consternation.

“I don’t know if (Lomax) has frustrations that he just hasn’t spoken to me about. I have to get to the bottom of that,” Hardaway said . “But I know he’s a winner.”

Lomax responded against Georgia, scoring a season-high nine points in the first half alone to lead all Tigers. The former East star also helped spark Memphis’ first-half run with a pair of steals inside the final five minutes.

Lomax finished with 14 points and only one turnover.

Nolley led Memphis with 17 points.

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

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball: 5 takeaways from Tigers' loss at Georgia