University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
4-1
Oakland
3-4
Tigers Trounce Grizzlies, 77-46
Nov 30, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2009
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -Elliot Williams scored 20 points and Will Coleman added 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks to lead Memphis to a 77-46 victory over Oakland (Mich.) on Monday night. Memphis improves to 4-1 on the season with the victory. Oakland falls to 3-4 with the loss. With Monday's victory Josh Pastner is now tied for the third-best record among Tiger coaches in their first five games as the head coach.
Roburt Sallie matched Coleman's 12 points for the Tigers (4-1). Williams was 8-for-14 from the field in the game, as Memphis shot 54.8 percent (34-for-62).
Williams has scored 20 points in four of his first five games as a Tiger after transferring to Memphis from Duke prior to the start of his sophomore season. The guard has led the Tigers in scoring in each of the first five contests.
Sallie scored over 10 points for the third-consecutive game. The junior from Sacramento, Calif., scored 17 points against Central Arkansas.
Derick Nelson led Oakland (3-4) with 14 points, while Johnathon Jones added 12 points. Keith Benson, who leads the Golden Grizzlies in scoring with 18.2 points per game, was held to 9 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Memphis pulled away with 14 unanswered points midway through the first half, and took a 31-17 lead at halftime. Memphis eventually would lead by as many as 36.
Oakland was hindered by shooting 33.3 percent (16-for-48) and committing 24 turnovers in the game.
The Tigers shot 61.8 percent from the field in the second half, finishing with an overall shooting percentage of 54.8 percent. Coleman led the Tigers out of the locker room in the second half scoring the first six points of the half. All of Coleman's 12 points were scored in the second period.
Memphis recorded the largest margin of victory of any of Oakland's opponents this season with 31 points between the Tigers and the Golden Grizzlies. The previous high was a 30 point margin between Oakland and the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 25.
The Tigers will return to the court at FedExForum on Dec. 5, against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
