Dec. 18, 2004

Box Score |  Quotes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Freshman Joey Dorsey scored 14 points and grabbed 18 rebounds Saturday night to help Memphis rally and beat Austin Peay 71-66.

Memphis (6-4) led by as many as 13 in the second half, but Austin Peay (1-6) cut into the margin and trailed 68-66 with 17 seconds left. Two free throws by Rodney Carney and another by Anthony Rice in the final seconds preserved the victory for Memphis.

In the early stages, Memphis had no cohesiveness on offense, very little intensity on defense and poor shooting from the field. Add to all that, some sloppy ball handling that contributed to a turnover-a-minute average for the first 11 minutes, and the Governors had built a 20-12 lead with just under seven minutes left in the half.

At that point, after begging, pleading and yelling from Memphis coach John Calipari, the Tigers went on a 13-3 run to take a 25-23 lead on a Darius Washington drive with 45 seconds left in the half. Carney, who led Tiger scorers with 10 in the half, had six points in the streak.

Anthony Davis's 3-pointer gave the Governors a 26-25 lead at the break.

Maurice Hampton had 13 points in the half for Austin Peay.

Carney led Memphis scorers with 20 points and added 10 rebounds. Washington had 16 points and eight assists, while Rice finished with 13 points.

Davis led Austin Peay with 21 points, six of those coming from two trips to the free throw line in the final 45 seconds as Memphis defenders twice fouled him as he shot from outside the arc.

Hampton scored 16 for Austin Peay, while Zac Schlader finished with 14 points. William Durden had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Governors, who dropped their sixth straight.