University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
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#11 Wichita State
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Memphis Drops Season Opener
Nov 18, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Box Score | BoxScore 
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Sioux Falls, S.D.- After a close first half, No. 11/11 Wichita State pulled away to hand the Memphis Tigers a season opening loss 71-56 in Sioux Falls, N.D. on Tuesday afternoon.
It was the first time in 12 seasons the UofM has dropped a season opener, when they lost to Wake Forest in the Coaches versus Cancer Classic in the beginning of the 2003-04 schedule.
The Tigers were led by sophomore Nick King, who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Austin Nichols added 10 points and had six blocks, one less than a career-high seven he set against Temple. Avery Woodson had 10 points to round out double-figure scoring for Memphis.
Ron Baker led all scorers with 21 points and six assists. Three other Shockers scored in double figures on the afternoon.
There was not much of a difference in field goal percentage, as Wichita State shot 40.3 percent (25-62) and Memphis 40 percent (20-50), but the Shockers put up 12 more field goal attempts. From beyond the arc, Wichita State and Memphis were both 22.2 percent. Wichita State hit four threes, while the Tigers hit two. Both teams took 23 free throws, with the Shockers making three more than the UofM.
The big difference in the game was the turnover margin. Wichita State created 24 turnovers, converting them into 27 points, while Memphis was able to force the Shockers to turn it over only 12 times and converted them into 13 points.
It was the Tigers who got on top early thanks to a Shaq Goodwin jumper a little more than a minute into the game. Unfortunately, Goodwin picked up two fouls in the next three minutes, limiting his impact in the first half.
The Shockers took a 4-2 lead with 16:54 remaining on a jumper from Darius Carter, and Wichita State would never relinquish the lead. The Tigers wouldn't allow WSU too much space to breathe, keeping the lead within two scores for almost the entirety of the first half.
After a Fred VanVleet free throw made it a 13-6 lead with 8:14 to play in the first, Memphis responded with jumpers from King, and two from Trashon Burrell to get it within one.
The two teams went back and forth for the remaining 5:17 before Wichita State would create a little space and head to the break holding a 29-22 lead.
The Tigers got within four after an Avery Woodson three pointer at the 17:10 mark, the first three for either team, but that was as close as it got.
Wichita State went on a 16-4 run over the next four minutes to make it 49-33. The Shockers would eventually stretch the lead out to 23 points at 69-46 with 4:28 to play, but would only add a pair of free throws from there.
Memphis would finish on a 10-2 run, capped by a Goodwin jumper with 28 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 15, where it would remain as the buzzer sounded.
Next up is the home opener for the Tigers, as they welcome Prairie View A&M to FedExForum for a 7 p.m. (CT) tipoff on Monday.
