CDR Doesn't Play, Tigers Beat Tulsa 72-59

Tigers Stay Perfect In C-USA Play, Beat Tulsa 72-59
Joey Dorsey records double double in win.

Jan. 24, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -Joey Dorsey scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead No. 11 Memphis to a 72-59 victory over Tulsa on Wednesday night.

Dorsey dominated the inside in the first half and the Tigers (16-3, 6-0 Conference USA) built an early lead en route to their eighth straight victory, keeping them undefeated at home.

Tulsa (12-6, 2-3) lost its third straight, and the Golden Hurricane have lost all four road games this season.

Robert Dozier had 12 points and eight rebounds for Memphis, while Jeremy Hunt scored 11 on 4-of-15 shooting from the field.

Ray Reese led Tulsa with 17 points, and Ben Uzoh added 10. Rod Earls, Tulsa's leading scorer at 12.5 points, was limited to three points, missing five of his six shots from the field.

Tulsa was hindered by 18 turnovers and 34 percent shooting from the field.

Memphis continued to play without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts, who still is recovering from a high ankle sprain.

Tulsa stayed fairly tight with Memphis through the first half before the Tigers carried a 38-30 lead into the half.

Memphis used a 14-2 run midway through the half to build it's first double-digit advantage as the Golden Hurricane struggled from the field, shooting 29 percent. Tulsa managed to stay within striking distance by switching defenses to throw the Tigers' offense out of rhythm in parts of the half.

The Memphis inside game was the difference. Led by Dorsey's 11 points and eight rebounds in the half, Memphis held a 24-10 advantage in the paint. Combined with 19 points off 11 Tulsa turnovers, Memphis took the lead early and didn't relinquish it through the first half.

Memphis maintained the double-digit lead in the bulk of the second half, building the advantage to as many as 16. The Golden Hurricane were hindered by their continued shooting woes, and never seemed to get enough momentum going after the break to cut substantially into the Tiger lead.