MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Penny Hardaway didn't sound off on his veterans as he did following last week's losses to Georgia and Ole Miss. Instead, he blamed "bad coaching."
"I didn't do anything right tonight," he said. "I let my guys down."
Memphis fell to Murray State 74-72, despite leading by 14 at halftime. The Tigers have now lost four straight games for the first time in Hardaway's tenure.
"I've gone through plenty of adversity in my life, and this is a low point in basketball besides my knee surgeries."
Trailing 69-67 with 31 seconds to play, Emoni Bates was called for a foul on Justice Hill as he pulled up for three. Hill would sink all three of his free throws to give the Racers a five-point lead.
Alex Lomax drained a right wing three to make it a two-point game. He intercepted the Murray State outlet pass, tipped it to himself and stood in the corner. With 18 seconds remaining, the Tigers with a timeout, and only two points needed to tie, Lomax took one dribble, and fired an ill-advised shot from beyond the arc, clanking short.
Hill pulled down the rebound. KJ Williams slammed the dunk. Murray State sealed the win.
With No. 9 Alabama and No. 13 Tennessee coming up on the schedule, the Tigers will have an uphill battle to avoid dropping six consecutive game.
"Until we all bond together, this kind of stuff can happen. Other teams to me seem closer. They're having fun, they're making plays. We'll get there."