TU no match for Memphis in 94-64 loss
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/03/13 at 6:50 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Against a surging Memphis basketball team that hasn't lost since 10 days before Christmas, the University of Tulsa was dealt its worst beating in seven years.
D.J. Stephens had a huge first half with 15 points and four blocked shots, and the Tigers rolled to a 17-point halftime cushion. Memphis wound up crushing the Golden Hurricane 94-64 before a FedEx Forum crowd of 16,196.
Recording its 12th consecutive win, Memphis improved to 18-3 overall and 7-0 in Conference USA. Falling to 12-10 and 4-4, the Hurricane was outscored 50-18 in bench points.
"This isn't acceptable," Tulsa coach Danny Manning said. "We're coming back and we're going to practice and, damn it, they've got to bring it. End of story."
TU players, Manning added, "are not going to like practice the next couple of days."
Just as Hurricane freshman forward D'Andre Wright returned to action - after having missed nine games due to a lower-leg injury - another freshman forward, Zeldric King, was sidelined.
During Friday's practice session, King sustained a leg injury. On Saturday, he was on crutches. His status for Wednesday's UAB game (7 p.m., Reynolds Center) has not been announced by TU.
Saturday's 30-point setback was TU's worst since Jan. 11, 2006. In the Hurricane's first league game as a Conference USA member, it was rocked by 30 points (84-54) at UAB.
At the 7:46 mark of the first half, after Scottie Haralson converted on a 3-point attempt, Tulsa trailed by only six points (28-22). During the rest of the half, Tulsa was 2-of-14 on shots from the field and committed four turnovers. Memphis went to the halftime locker room with a 49-32 advantage.
During the second half, the Tigers buried TU with an 18-5 run. For Memphis, Antonio Barton scored 13 of his 15 points during the second half. Stephens finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and five of Memphis' 12 blocks. Chris Crawford totaled 12 points and Shaq Goodwin 10. After scoring 26 points during Wednesday's victory at East Carolina, Joe Jackson had a quiet six-point afternoon against Tulsa.
For the Hurricane, senior forward Kauri Black had a season-high total of 14 points, while Haralson scored 13, Pat Swilling Jr. 11 and Rashad Ray 10. Making his 22nd start of his freshman season, Tulsa guard James Woodward was scoreless for the first time. He attempted only three shots and played only 16 minutes.
In his first game action since the Dec. 22 victory at Oral Roberts, Wright played 11 minutes and totaled two points, three rebounds and three blocks.
Original Print Headline: Tulsa no match for Tigers in 94-64 loss
