University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
9-3
#14 Tennessee
10-2
No. 14 Tennessee Holds off Memphis 66-59
Dec 31, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes |
Photo Gallery 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--In what was a closely contested game throughout, the University of Memphis Tigers fell 66-59 to No. 14 Tennessee on Thursday afternoon at FedExForum. Memphis falls to 9-3 on the year while Tennessee improves to 10-2. The Tigers were led by senior Doneal Mack, who scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Mack hit four three pointers in the game, bringing his career total to 20. He joins Rodney Carney and Anthony Rice as the only Tigers to record 200 career three pointers. Elliot Williams scored 13 points, with 10 coming in the second half. Williams also hit career high 11 free throws en route to making 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. Wesley Witherspoon was the only other Memphis player in double figures, notching 11 points, seven rebounds and a career high four blocks in 30 minutes of action. Memphis came out of the gate hitting shots and used two three pointers from Mack to grab a quick 13-7 advantage at the 12:21 mark. Tennessee regained the lead at 14-13 when Wayne Chism connected on a pair of free throws with 10:59 remaining. Tennessee would take a 31-24 lead into the half and never relinquish the lead. The Tigers scored five straight to start the second half and cut the lead to 33-29. Tennessee then reeled off nine straight to take a 13 points advantage at 42-29. Memphis would cut the lead to as few as four after a Witherspoon layup made it 61-57 with 37 seconds to play, but the Tigers could never completely close the gap. Tennessee was led by Chism, who scored 15 points on 5-7 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Fellow seniors Tyler Smith (11) and J.P. Prince (12) were the only other Vols in double figures In a game in which neither team could ever find its rhythm (UT shot 35.8 percent; Memphis shot 31.4 percent) the Vols used their size down low to dominate both the paint and the glass. Tennessee pulled down an impressive 47 boards, including 18 on the offensive end, and scored 30 points in the paint. Memphis tallied just 28 rebounds and 12 points in the paint. "Give them credit," said Memphis head coach Josh Pastner. "We battled. We fought. We played hard, but the bottom line is 18-9 on the offensive glass. Looking at our three losses, that is the bottom line." The Tigers did hold the Vols to just 15.4 percent shooting beyond the arc. Tennessee came into the game making 34.7 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. Tennessee's victory ends Memphis' 23-game home court winning streak. The streak was the sixth longest home winning streak in the country. Memphis now falls to 7-3 all time in New Year's Eve contests. The Tigers next face Houston Baptist at FedExForum on January 3rd at 2 p.m. (CT).
