On March 7, 2025, for example, he dropped 20 points for South Florida.
But things were a lot different on Nov. 7. In his first home game as a Tiger, Reid pounded VCU to the tune of 32 points en route to leading Memphis to a come-from-behind 89-88 victory. He scored the team’s last six points, five of which came in the final 1:19, including a pair of free throws with 5 seconds on the clock that first tied the game then put the Tigers (2-0) ahead for good.
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The emotions poured out of Reid, who teared up during his postgame ESPN+ interview. Dozens of happy Memphis fans cheered him on as he walked off the court. He was still getting hugs from teammates and others when he walked out of the locker room about 15 minutes later.
“You know, I prayed every day for moments like this, to be in positions like this,” Reid said. “I was just so thankful. Everybody’s story is different. My story is unique for me. God has never failed.
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Memphis’ Tylik Weeks (4) comes down with a defensive rebound during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Tylik Weeks (4) comes down with a defensive rebound during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Maxim Logue (77) strips the ball from VCU’s forward Michael Belle (8) during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Luke Almodovar (10) passes the ball during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ head coach Penny Hardaway speaks to an official during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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VCU’s Lazar Djokovic (17) goes for a layup as Memphis’ forward Maxim Logue (77) and Tylik Weeks (4) jump to block him during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Julius Thedford (5) and VCU’s Brandon Jennings (0) chase after a ball bouncing out of bounds during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ head coach Penny Hardaway shouts to one of his players during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Julius Thedford (5) brings the ball up the court during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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VCU’s guard Nyk Lewis (5) goes for a layup as Memphis’ Josh Holloway (1) and Brandin Cummings (3) guard him during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Josh Holloway (1) reacts after making a 3 pointer during the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Nemanja Popovic (17) high fives his teammates in a line before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Josh Holloway (1) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Corneilous Williams (2) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Brandin Cummings (3) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Julius Thedford (5) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Parker Pounds (6) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Nemanja Popovic (17) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Fred Smith Jr. (30) walks out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Jayden Reid (0) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Luke Almodovar (10) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Rihards Vavers (15) runs out as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Memphis’ Maxim Logue (77) reacts as he’s introduced before the game between VCU and Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on November 7, 2026.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
“This is my third school and just trusting (God). Once I got in the portal, I prayed a lot. I ended up at Memphis and we’re starting off 2-0. Big-time win. Just a lot of emotions. Just super thankful and blessed.”
Here are five takeaways from the Tigers’ victory.
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Free throw shooting shows up at the right time
Memphis missed 13 free throws in the game against VCU, finishing with a 66% success rate.
But the Tigers picked it up in crunch time, making six of their last eight and three of their last four.
Memphis made the front and back ends of its trips to the line just seven times in the game. Reid accounted for one of them, making both free throws with 5 seconds left on the clock.
Tigers’ 3-point defense woes
The lights never went out, but VCU tried its best in the first half.
The Rams (1-1) hit an incredible 10 3-pointers on 17 attempts, powering them to a 48-44 halftime lead.
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Perhaps none hurt more than when Sammy Jackson (who played just two minutes in the first half) got off an end-of-the-shot clock prayer with a hand in his face that went in with 6 seconds to go before halftime.
Many of VCU’s other makes were often the result of slow defensive closeouts by the Tigers. But Memphis slowed the Rams down in the second half, allowing just three 3-pointers on seven attempts.
More Julius Thedford, less Jerry Deng
Memphis native Julius Thedford did not play in the Tigers’ win over Iowa State on Nov. 2.
But Hardaway enlisted his junior guard – one of just two holdovers from last season – early against VCU. His rebounding (five) and defense showed up, even if his shot didn’t (1-of-5). His fifth rebound came on the Rams’ final shot of the game.
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Meanwhile, 6-9 forward Jerry Deng, who played six minutes in the season opener (and had 5 points, one rebound and one block), did not play against the Rams.
Rihards Vavers a 3-point assassin
Billed as a superb sharpshooter, Rihards Vavers was precisely that against VCU.
The Washington State transfer drilled four 3-pointers (out of the team’s 10) on five attempts – two in each half.
In his first two games at Memphis, Vavers is shooting 58.3% from deep, having made seven of his last eight.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
