University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tulsa
No. 4 Memphis Rolls Past Tulsa, 78-67
Feb 25, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2006
Box Score | Quotes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Shawne Williams scored 21 points, including nine during the game-deciding run over the final six minutes, to lead No. 4 Memphis to a 78-67 victory over Tulsa on Saturday.
Tulsa stayed close until Williams began scoring inside as Memphis (26-2, 12-0 Conference USA) outscored the Golden Hurricane 18-3 down the stretch to win its 15th game in a row and earn at least a share of the conference title.
The Tigers finally put Tulsa away with an 11-0 run, capped by a dunk from Rodney Carney, to give them some breathing room at 71-62 with 2 minutes left.
Carney finished with 20 points, while Darius Washington scored 13 points for Memphis.
Brett McDade led Tulsa (10-15, 5-7) with 14 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Darold Crow scored 11 points. Ray Reese finished with 10 points.
Tulsa, which lost 84-61 to Memphis at home earlier in the month, held a 62-60 lead when Reese connected on a pair of free throws with just under 6 minutes remaining.
That's when the Memphis offense, which had struggled throughout, finally got going.
The Golden Hurricane clogged the middle, cutting off penetration and forcing Memphis to shoot outside, and the plan worked.
But Memphis began posting up Williams, who responded with a pair of inside baskets and a foul shot to start Memphis' final spurt.
Tulsa stayed close through the first half by protecting the basketball and shooting 48 percent. The Golden Hurricane committed 24 turnovers in their first loss to Memphis, but made only seven in the first half on Saturday.
There were seven ties and 16 lead changes in the first half, and a 3-pointer by Carney with 2 seconds left gave Memphis a 42-37 lead at the break.
The Tigers may have built a lead earlier if not for a poor performance from the foul line where they hit 26 of 41 shots.
