University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
-208, 103 CUSA
Houston
-1413, 67 CUSA
Coleman Leads Houston Past Memphis, 92-75
Feb 24, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2010
Final Stats
HOUSTON, Texas - Aubrey Coleman used 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting to help the Houston Cougars snap an 11-game losing streak to the Memphis Tigers, 92-75 at Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston, Texas on Wed., Feb. 24.
Coleman, a senior guard from Houston, Texas, scored 66 points in two games against the Tigers this season. His scoring performances have been the two best by a Tiger opponent during the 2009-10 season.
Memphis falls to 20-8 (10-3 C-USA) with Wednesday's loss. The Cougars improve to 14-13 (6-7 C-USA) with the win. The loss snaps a five-game Conference USA winning streak for the Tigers. The victory is the 11th in the series for Houston. Memphis has won 24 games against their foes from the Lone Star State all-time. The Cougars last defeated the Tigers on Feb. 5, 2005 in Houston.
Houston's 92 points are the most the Tigers have allowed so far this season. Coming into Wednesday's contest a Tiger opponent's previous high against them was 86 points versus Tulsa on Feb. 13.
Wesley Witherspoon led the Tigers with 18 points on six-of-15 shooting. The sophomore has now scored double figures in 16 of the last 20 games for Memphis.
Angel Garcia came off the bench for the Tigers to score 13 second-half points. The sophomore forward accounted for all of his points in the last 11 minutes of the game, shooting five-of-12 from the field and connecting on two three-pointers.
Elliot Williams, the Tigers' leading scorer, was held to a season-low six points. It is only the second time this season that the sophomore guard has scored under 10 points. Williams came into the game averaging 24.5 points-per-game in Conference USA road games.
Along with Coleman, Houston was also led by 18 points by Kelvin Lewis and 16 points and nine rebounds from Kendrick Washington. Guard Desmond Wade had 10 assists to four turnovers on the game.
The Memphis Tigers went to the locker room with their largest half-time deficit of the season on Wednesday at Hofheinz Pavilion. The Cougars led the Tigers 43 to 28 at the break. The Tigers' largest half-time deficit heading into the contest was seven points to the Tennessee Volunteers on Dec. 31. The half-time deficit marked only the seventh game this season in which the Tigers have been trailing at the break.
After being tied at 4-4 at 17:00 mark, the Cougars outscored the visiting Tigers 27 to nine for the next 11 minutes, leading Memphis by as many as 18 points at the 6:09 mark. Houston was led during the offensive onslaught by 10 points from Coleman, Conference USA's leading scorer.
The Tigers cut into the Cougars lead over the next three minutes, outscoring the host school, 9-2 heading into the 3:05 mark, taking Houston's lead down to 11 points.
However, the Cougars were able to hit shots to stave off the Tigers comeback for the rest of the half, outscoring Memphis 10 to six to keep the Tigers at bay, 43 to 28 at half.
Houston's 43 first-half points were the most the Tigers had allowed this season. The previous high also came from the Cougars on Jan. 23 at FedExForum, when they scored 39 first-half points. Houston and Memphis were tied at the break in that game, 39-39.
Coleman's 16 points led the Cougars in the opening period. Junior forward Maurice McNeil chipped in 11 first-half points.
The Cougars hit 18-of-36 from the field in the first half for 50 percent, compared to Memphis' 32-percent shooting from the field in the opening period.
Doneal Mack and Witherspoon led Memphis in the first half. Both players tallied six points at the break.
Memphis came out of the break and was able to cut Houston's 15 point half-time lead to 12 with a converted Mack free-throw and a Roburt Sallie layup at the 18:44 mark but that would be as close as the Tigers would get to Houston for the rest of the game.
The Tigers pulled within 13 points at the 10:17 mark after going on a 6-0 run, but the Cougars quickly stopped the run and were able to extend their margin to as much as 22 points with 7:50 remaining.
Memphis was only outscored 49 to 47 in the second half, but their first-half deficit was enough to succomb to the Houston Cougars.
The Tigers will return to action on Feb. 27 when they face the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss at 7 p.m., at FedExForum.
