University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Houston
Tigers Claw Cougars, 64-48
Jan 24, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Jan 24, 2004
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Sean Banks scored 18 points and Memphis held Houston to 10 first-half points to down the Cougars 64-48 Saturday night.
Banks connected on 6 of 13 shots as Memphis (12-4, 3-2 Conference USA) broke the game open early. The Tigers' lead reached double digits after 13 minutes of play and stayed there the rest of the night.
Rodney Carney added 14 points for Memphis, and Antonio Burks scored 12.
The Cougars (7-9, 1-4) were led by Marcus Oliver's 15 points. Lanny Smith scored 11.
Both teams were sloppy and neither shot well, both connecting on 36 percent from the floor. Memphis spent much of the night launching 3s over Houston's tightly packed zone.
Memphis controlled the boards 44-31, led by 13 from Ivan Lopez.
The Tigers shot just 31 percent in the first half and still led by 21 points. That's because the first period was a nightmare for Houston.
The Cougars hit only five field goals, shot 19 percent, never got to the free throw line and were outrebounded 29-16. The Tigers led 31-10 at the break.
Smith and fellow guard Andre Owens were a combined 1-of-14 from the field in the half.
Memphis fired over the Houston zone with only slightly better success. Of the Tigers' 32 first-half field goal attempts, 20 were 3-point tries. Six went in. For the game the Tigers were 10 of 35 from outside.
Houston doubled its first-half point total within five minutes of play in the second half, and still the Cougars never got closer than 15 points.
