Sports · Basketball · 2 hrs ago
Memphis opens 2-0 with wins over Iowa State and VCU
Memphis has started the season with two wins in Division I men's college basketball.
Coach Penny Hardaway's Tigers beat No.
18 Iowa State 80-76 at a neutral site, then defeated VCU 89-88 at home in Memphis.
The wins came against strong early opponents: Iowa State is ranked in the AP poll, and VCU is ranked 57th by KenPom and picked to win the Atlantic 10.
Memphis is the only Division I men's team with a win over an AP-ranked team and another over a KenPom top-60 team, according to the story.
The start is a boost for Hardaway, whose team had a poor season last year and who entered his ninth season under pressure.
He has led Memphis to three NCAA Tournament appearances, with one win in the tournament.
It is still early in the season, and no next game or further outcome is given.
Memphis opened the 2026-27 men’s basketball season 2-0 with wins over Iowa State and VCU.
The Tigers beat No. 18 Iowa State 80-76 at a neutral site on Monday.
They followed with an 89-88 home victory over VCU on Saturday.
Jayden Reid scored 32 points against VCU and made the game-winning free throws in the final seconds.
- Who
- Memphis, coached by Penny Hardaway, beat Iowa State and VCU.
- What
- The Tigers opened the season 2-0 with wins over both teams.
- When
- The wins came on Monday and Saturday, during the first week of the 2026-27 season.
- Where
- The Iowa State game was at a neutral site; the VCU game was at FedExForum in Memphis.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Memphis beat No. 18 Iowa State 80-76 at a neutral site.
Memphis beat VCU 89-88 at FedExForum, with Jayden Reid making the game-winning free throws in the final seconds.
- Memphis record
- 2-0
- Iowa State score
- Memphis won 80-76
- VCU score
- Memphis won 89-88
- Jayden Reid
- Scored 32 points against VCU
- VCU venue
- FedExForum
What people are saying
I'm just so thankful
I'm just thankful for God. He put me in a great position, coming to Memphis out the portal. I'm so thankful for my coaches, my teammates. It's a big-time win at home.
Posts on X
Just look at what today meant to Jayden Reid. In tears in his postgame interview after dropping 32 and coming up clutch to lead Memphis to a huge win over VCU. Great job by my guys @Greg_Gaston and @Treydraper3 to let him show his full emotions. An instant fan favorite here.