GAME NOTES: Conference USA action is on the docket in Dallas tonight, as the SMU Mustangs play host to the Memphis Tigers.
Wins in three of the last four games have enabled Memphis to move to 12-3 overall. The Tigers began league play last Saturday with a 61-58 decision over East Carolina in front of a relieved home crowd. Though Memphis has played 15 games to date, just one has been a true road affair, and that clash resulted in a loss to Tennessee last week.
Defeats in the last two outings have dropped SMU to 9-6 overall, and the team opened league play with a lackluster 79-70 setback to Tulane on Saturday. That loss dropped the Mustangs to 1-3 in true road games, but the fact that they are 8-3 at home figures to serve as a source of confidence this evening.
Memphis owns a 9-2 series lead over SMU, but the Mustangs won the most recent meeting by a 70-60 final last season.
There are three double-digit scorers on the Memphis roster, and leading the way is Will Barton with his 12.4 ppg. Wesley Witherspoon checks in with 11.5 ppg, and Joe Jackson provides 10.5 ppg. The Tigers are generating 79.7 ppg while allowing 71.7 ppg to opponents. Taking a look at the three-point victory over East Carolina that opened Conference USA play, Memphis jumped out to a 12-point lead at intermission after limiting ECU to 5-of-17 shooting from the floor in the first half. Over the final 20 minutes, the Tigers struggled with their own shooting, connecting on just 8-of-21 attempts, including 1-of-6 from behind the arc, but they were able to hold on for the win anyway. Tarik Black scored 12 points off the bench for Memphis, which got 11 points from Will Coleman. The fact that the club won the game despite quiet performances from Jackson, Barton and Witherspoon was both surprising and encouraging.
SMU relies heavily on the duo of Papa Dia and Robert Nyakundi at the offensive end of the court. Dia is scoring 17.0 ppg on 61.2 percent shooting from the field, and he is also ripping down 8.5 rpg to go along with a team-best 23 blocks. In fact, the rest of the team has combined for only 12 rejections. As for Nyakundi, he checks in with 16.5 ppg on the strength of his 45.6 percent shooting from three-point range. SMU is posting 68.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 61.9 ppg on 42.7 percent field goal efficiency. Justin Haynes came through with 21 points for the Mustangs against Tulane last Saturday, and Dia tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds. Nyakundi pitched in 13 points for the Mustangs, who lost despite shooting 54 percent from the field. Clearly, a 20-10 deficit in points from the foul line hurt the cause.
Don't be surprised to see an upset this evening, as the Mustangs are certainly talented enough to knock off the Tigers and have the home crowd for support.
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:27 pm