University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
-134, 21 CUSA
Marshall
-125, 12 CUSA
Memphis Bounces Back to Defeat Marshall, 77-61
Jan 15, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2011
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By: Preston McClellan
MEMPHIS - Will Coleman posted his first double-double of the season (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Memphis scored 48 points in the paint as the Tigers never trailed in all-around drubbing of Marshall, 77-61, Saturday afternoon at FedExForum.
"It was a tremendous effort from this team," said Memphis head coach Josh Pastner. "That was a good Marshall team."
After the Tigers jumped out to an early 8-2, advantage, the Thundering Herd battled back to tie the game at 15. A nifty layup by Antonio Barton and a triple from Charles Carmouche on the ensuing Memphis possessions sparked a 20-0 run as Memphis extended its lead to as much as 35-15 at the 6:03 mark.
The Tigers shot 17-of-27 (63 percent) from the floor and held Marshall to just 26.9 percent shooting in the opening half while dominating the Thundering Herd on the glass, 21-12 and taking a 45-28 advantage into halftime.
The Thundering Herd never could get back into the game after going without a field goal for over six minutes during the Tigers' decisive first-half run. Marshall found itself within 51-41 after an old-fashioned three-point play from Damier Pitts, but an emphatic putback jam from D.J. Stephens and a Carmouche triple on the next two Tiger possessions effectively put the game out of reach.
Carmouche finished with 16 points, making all three of Memphis' threes and connecting on 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Tarik Black, who played alongside Coleman for much of the game, finished just one rebound short of his own double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Will Barton settled into the mid-range game against the Thundering Herd, making 7-of-9 shots from inside the arc in a 15-point, five-assist effort.
"I was proud of our guys for starting out well and finishing will," Pastner said. "There wasn't a lull today."
DeAndre Kane led Marshall with 16 points and five rebounds, while Tirrell Baines added 15 points of his own. Pitts finished with 14 points, but shot just 4-of-16 from the floor.
Memphis has now beaten Marshall seven consecutive times, and the Tigers have now won eight straight C-USA games at FedExForum.
The Tigers will try to earn their first road victory of the season Wednesday when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. for a midweek C-USA matchup with South
