Are you ready for today’s puzzles? 

Memphis lost to Arkansas State of the Sun Belt, but Penny Hardaway’s faith in the Tigers remains strong. Red Wolves coach Bryan Hodgson’s does too.

Fans had flashbacks to last season as a Memphis team that had notched wins over then-No. 2 UConn and Michigan State in Maui less than two weeks ago led for only 38 seconds against Arkansas State.

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Box score: Arkansas State 85, Memphis 72

Memphis can’t dig out of early hole in double-digit loss to Arkansas State

The Grizzlies handled their business against the Washington Wizards on Sunday night, leaning into their bench. 

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Box score: Grizzlies 140, Wizards 112

NBA box score for the Memphis Grizzlies game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Dec. 8 in Washington.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders, who won three of their last four games to end the regular season, will face an Arkansas team that is making its second Liberty Bowl appearance in three years. The Razorbacks have won three Liberty Bowls since 2010. 

A 13-point halftime deficit ballooned to 18 just minutes into the second half. And, even when Memphis tried to respond, it wasn’t enough. Nope, there was no late-game switch the Tigers could flip this time.

NCAA men’s basketball box score for Sunday’s game between the Memphis Tigers and Arkansas State Red Wolves played at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The University of Memphis women’s basketball team lost to the Southern Miss Lady Eagles, on Sunday Dec. 8 at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Also happening this week: The Cooper-Young sober home is in court, and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris presents Frayser high school funding to the County Commission.

The 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl has its two teams for a Dec. 27 date at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

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AutoZone Liberty Bowl snapshot: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas

The Mountain West Conference claimed the Group of Five spot in the first 12-team format of the College Football Playoff.

The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl will be the first game played between Memphis and West Virginia. Here’s a look at the two teams.

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How a tiny Texas bowl came up big with the No. 25 Memphis Tigers

Memphis gynecologist Dr. Susan Lacy has been treating the transgender community for the past eight years. When Tennessee passed a law banning transgender care for minors, she decided to become a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

ServisFirst Bank’s full-service branch in East Memphis will open this month with a team of 12, including several veteran Memphis bankers. The bank entered the local market earlier this year by establishing a loan-production office.

A new flow of funds to Lakeland will be used to build an early childhood center at the proposed community center, providing a much-needed service to the city.

“It seems ridiculous to feel sad over a chain restaurant leaving town. But for me, it’s as much about the memories as it is the chicken tenders. Because when it comes to meals regularly eaten in community, it’s hard to tell where food ends and friendship begins.”

This week’s puzzle was inspired by The Daily Memphian’s Holidays in Memphis guide, which is packed with info about area Christmas parades, seasonal theater and music productions, shopping events, light displays and more.

Much had to fall into place for the Frisco Bowl to land 10-win Memphis and West Virginia of the Big 12. Tigers athletic director Ed Scott and bowl director Sean Johnson reveal how everything came together.

Are you ready for it? Here are today’s sudokus. 

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. combined for 59 points as Memphis defeated Boston in Boston for the first time since 2013.

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Box score: Grizzlies 127, Celtics 121

Ja Morant scores 32 in Boston, to help Grizzlies snap 32-game losing streak

Ja Morant had 32 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies ended a 10-game losing streak in Boston with a win over the Celtics on Saturday night.

The third quarter proved decisive as the Oakland Patriots avenged their loss in last year’s title game.

Box score for the Memphis Grizzlies NBA game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Tigers will host the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite Red Wolves on Sunday at FedExForum.