Southwest Tennessee Community College transfer Jimario Rivers has shown he can provide a spark. So has guard Craig Randall, who had back-to-back games of 21 and 18 points in wins over Savannah State and McNeese last month. And if his performance in Wednesday night's 84-69 victory over Jackson State is an indication, Coppin State graduate transfer guard Christian Kessee may be on the verge of joining Rivers and Randall.
Although his numbers were modest -- 5 points and 2 rebounds in 12 minutes -- Kessee has the talent, and ability, to be a significant help after a lackluster start.
Kessee entered the Jackson State game averaging 1.7 points and 10.5 minutes, including 4-of-16 shooting (and 1-of-8 from beyond the arc).
But Wednesday night, he put those numbers aside. After Jackson State had cut the Memphis lead to eight points with nine minutes left, he calmly drained a 3-pointer for a 70-59 cushion and a few possessions later he sank two free throws for a 74-59 advantage.
"We had a big bucket there by Christian Kessee, he made a 3 that gave us a little relief," Smith said. "Nothing was going in for a stretch there," Smith said, referring to his team's 29 percent shooting in the second half. "We were terrible. A lot of it had to do with (JSU) getting their hands on (passes) and contesting shots. But that was a huge basket and he stepped up without hesitation. That's something Christian can do."
Kessee joined the Tiger program this summer with the reputation as a perimeter shooting threat. He had 88 3-pointers last season for Coppin State.
What he showed in 12 minutes was encouraging to Smith.
"I saw a real calmness, a real poise," Smith said. "Christian wasn't in a panic. He didn't try to beat the trap off the dribble. He wasn't in a hurry."
Memphis overwhelms Jackson State
Smith said Kessee and freshman guard Keon Clergeot, who played briefly against JSU, will become factors during the season with their outside shooting, if they can bring their shooter's touches with them from practice.
"They shoot lights out in practice," Smith said. "We've just got to get them making shots when the lights are on."
As for Rivers, he scored a career-high 13 points in 12 minutes against Jackson State after missing the previous game -- Saturday's victory over Iowa in the Emerald Coast Classic -- with a back problem.
"You can tell he didn't have the same elevation (against JSU), that's part of his game," Smith said. "We are going to need him. You want to put Chad in there (in late-game situations) but you know they are going to hack him (because of his poor free-throw shooting)."
Gift that keeps giving: The U of M's penchant for sharing the basketball seems to be evolving into a personality trait. The Tigers entered the game averaging 22 assists, good for second nationally, and finished with 21. Point guard Jeremiah Martin had 8 assists to lead the team and K.J. Lawson added 5 to remain second on the team behind Martin.
Inside tip: Sophomore forward Dedric Lawson tied a career-high against Jackson State with five blocked shots. Not known for being extremely athletic, the 6-foot-9 Lawson said there are other ways to become proficient at rejections.
"The game of basketball is about angles (and) timing guys' jump, guys that are way more athletic than me," he said. "I still block their shots. It's just all about help defense, helping a (teammate) if he gets beat and just being a good teammate."
Lawson has had at least one block in each of the team's seven games and 15 blocks overall to lead the team.
Tigers' next game
Who: Memphis vs. Ole Miss
When, where: Noon, Saturday, Oxford, Miss.
TV, radio: ESPN+; WREC-AM 600, WEGR-FM 102.7