Jan. 30, 2010

Final Stats

DALLAS, Texas -

SMU/Memphis PDF

Papa Dia's 23 points and 14 rebounds and Derek Williams' 25 points, including shooting 14-of-15 from the charity stripe, led the SMU Mustangs past the Memphis Tigers, 70-60, on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. The Tigers were outscored 45 to 30 in the second half. Memphis falls to 15-6 (5-2 C-USA). The Mustangs improve to 10-10 (3-3 C-USA). The win is only SMU's second win in the series. The Mustangs last defeated the Tigers on Dec. 14, 1953.

Memphis went without a field goal for the first five minutes of the second half. The only Tiger points in the first five minutes came on a Roburt Sallie free throw. During that period of time, SMU went on a 7-1 run and took a 32-31 lead at the 16:39 mark on two Papa Dia free throws. Willie Kemp ended the drought with a three-pointer at the 14:48 mark.

Memphis extended its lead to as many as five, 39-34, before the Mustangs went on a 7-0 run to take the lead 41-39 on a Derek Williams three-point play. SMU built their margin to as much as five points on two occasions, before Memphis closed to within two points, 50-48, on Elliot Williams' first points of the second half at the 4:34 mark.

SMU countered with a 6-0 run and was able to hit crucial free throws down the stretch to stave off any idea the Tigers had of a comeback.

Williams led the Tigers with 19 points, but was held to only six points in the second half. He was held scoreless for the first 15 minutes of the second period. Sallie finished the game with 17 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Doneal Mack had 16 points. The rest of the Memphis roster only accounted for eight points in the game.

SMU came into the game leading C-USA in scoring defense with a 56.6 per-game average for opposing teams. The Mustangs have not allowed a C-USA opponent to score over 65 points this season and continued that trend with Saturday's win. This is the only fifth time this season that Memphis has been held to 60 points or less.

The Memphis Tigers went into the locker room with a 30-25 lead over SMU. Williams, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., led the Tigers with 13 first-half points on five-of-10 shooting from the field. Sallie chipped in with nine points, including two three-pointers. Sallie also had three rebounds and two steals in the opening period.

Memphis held their 13th opponent of the season under 30 first-half points.

SMU was led in the first half by Dia, a junior forward from St. Louis, Senegal. Dia had 12 points and seven rebounds in the opening period. Williams chipped in with six points.

The Tigers started the game with a 9-1 run, but were then held scoreless for over five minutes from the 15:36 mark to the 9:56 mark. During the Memphis drought, the Mustangs closed the margin to a one-point Tiger lead, 9-8. SMU eventually took the lead, 12-11. Memphis went back ahead on a layup by Williams and held onto the lead heading into the break.

Memphis returns to the court for a home date with rival UAB on Wed., Feb. 3 at 7 p.m., at FedExForum.