by Don Mooney 10-28-2025
photos by Altonita Washington
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Not your typical basketball contest where one team wins-one team loses. Monday night fans got a chance to witness something a different- something special. The University of Memphis mens and Vanderbilt womens program battled to moral, charitable tie where everybody involved was a winner.
Though the impetus for tonights exhibition contest St. Jude didn’t forget about the fans, the city and of course the patients they provide care for. The hospital known for its focused medical breakthroughs and research, specific to child cancer performed a special type, if I may, ‘sports surgery’ fusing the sentimental past of history-making former University of Memphis coach, John Calipari’s ties and current Memphis legendary player/basketball coach Penny Hardaway. Cleverly bonding the city of Memphis together sports night to remember.
photos by Altonita Washington
Memphis fans were treated to a double-headed, pre-season contest that could be a precursor to possible both come March Madness. Penny Hardaway‘s Tigers came out firing in its preseason debut and led by as many as 15 points in the first half. The Tigers took a 45-42 advantage into the locker room, fueled from aggressive defense and hustle plays.
Point guard Dug McDaniel paced Memphis with 19 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals while playing a team-high 33 minutes in his Tigers debut. Memphis native Curtis Givens III added 12 points, while athletic big man Aaron Bradshaw contributed eight points and four rebounds before fouling out in 18 minutes.
photos by Altonita Washington
The Tigers struggled to find consistency from the field, shooting 32.4 percent (22-of-68) overall and 18.8 percent (6-of-32) from three-point range. Memphis held a 45-42 halftime edge before the Razorbacks opened the second half on a 22-10 run to seize control. Despite a late push that cut the deficit to 10 points, Memphis was unable to convert down the stretch, missing its final nine field-goal attempts as Arkansas closed the game on a 20-6 run. Arkansas outscored Memphis 99-75 in the end.
Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, blistered the Tigers defense for 40 points en route to a 104-68 defeat of the Tigers.. Blakes, the reigning USBWA Tamika Catching National Freshman of the Year, picked up right where she left off in 2024-25. The guard shot a blistering 60 percent from the field, going 12-of-20 from the floor, including a 5-of-10 performance from behind the arc. The Vanderbilt sophomore was joined by UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Texas’ Madison Booker, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and UConn’s Sarah Strong on The Athletic preseason All-America first team.
Sophmore All-American Blakes filled up the stat sheet at the FedExForum, pulling down eight boards, with four assists and two steals. Her 40-point performance on Monday marks the most points scored by a player inside the FedExForum since Steph Curry’s 52-point effort on April 1, 2025. photo by Altonita Washington
Blakes, was named preseason first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches and media. Blakes averaged 23.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game a season ago and earned All-SEC first team honors to go along with being named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches and SEC Newcomer of the Year by USA Today.
A memorable night as well as a possible glimpse two teams who may be jockying for a prominent spot come March Madness tournament time. A big night for the city whose hospital has demonstrated world-wide commitment to fighting child cancer.
Memphis men will play its final exhibition game against Auburn on Thursday (7:30 p.m. CT) in Atlanta before officially opening the 2025-26 regular season Nov. 8 against San Francisco at 2 p.m. inside FedExForum.