Dec. 20, 2004

Box Score |  Quotes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Paul Millsap scored 19 points, including 14 in the second half, and grabbed 15 rebounds Monday night to lead Louisiana Tech to a 64-55 victory over Memphis.

Millsap, who was held scoreless for the first 17 minutes, also had five blocks on the night as Louisiana Tech (5-4) won its fourth game in its last five.

Meanwhile, the downward spiral for the Tigers (6-5) continued as Memphis has lost three of four.

Louisiana Tech's ineffective first-half shooting was equaled by the Tigers' inability to score after the break. Memphis hit only three of its first 26 shots in the second half, enabling Louisiana Tech to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit.

The Bulldogs eventually would lead by 14, and Memphis shot 23 percent in the second half.

Donell Allick had 14 points for Louisiana Tech, and Eric Woods scored 10.

Sean Banks, coming off a one-game suspension for unspecified team violations, led Memphis with 15 points, while Duane Erwin finished with 11, all in the first half, and 10 rebounds. Rodney Carney and Darius Washington added 10 each but were a combined 7-of-20 from the field.

The Memphis defense helped the Tigers take a 28-16 lead at the half.

Erwin put the clamps on Millsap, the Bulldogs' leading scorer, holding him to five points, all from the free throw line. Millsap, who averages 21.4 points, did not score until the 2:12 mark and missed all six of his shots from the field in the half.

Erwin also was the offensive catalyst for the Tigers with 11 first-half points on 5-of-7 shooting. That included a 3-pointer as time ran out in the half, the first career 3-pointer for the senior.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with 17 straight points to erase the Tiger lead and build their advantage to 33-28.

The run would reach 26-5, and the Bulldogs had built a 42-33 lead.