Game #371 - 2011 CUSA Tournament Finals
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Mar 9, 2011: (2) #16 Memphis (24-8, 13-5) vs (1) #1 Rice (32-0, 18-0)
Tip off
4th consecutive year we will be facing MEM in the conference tournament finals. We're 6-0 against MEM the last 6 meetings, but it was close during the last game where we beat them by just 2 pts. Round 2 between SG David Williams and MEM's PG Ryan Watson, who scored 39 and 28 pts respectively during our last meeting
What a flying start for SG David Williams, scoring 16 of our 1st 20 pts, to give us a 20-8 early lead. MEM had no answer to Williams the entire 1st half, as he finished with 30 pts (8 triples). SF Andre McFadden even connected on 3 shots from downtown. Still, MEM played good enough offense to keep themselves within striking distance. MEM's PG Ryan Watson with 12 pts.
Halftime, Up 51-36
Start of 2nd half
If MEM is going to get back in this game, it will be because of their defense. And MEM is indeed playing better defense at the start of the 2nd half
12:44, Up 60-48
It is MEM's turn to wax hot from the perimeter, and hit 3 straight triples. I also had to sit down SG David Williams because of 3 fouls. I was forced to call an early timeout
10:53, Up 63-57
We turned the ball over 3x during our last trips on offense. Fortunately, MEM wasn't able to capitalize.
7:24, Up 65-59
I bring back SG David Williams. A couple of plays later, Williams was called for a charge; his 4th foul. Williams has to sit again. Both teams trading turn overs, and offenses on both sides went cold. Tense moment, as whoever can come up even with a small run would have a big momentum shift.
4:40, Up 65-59
Finally SF Andre McFadden breaks the silence with a FG. Up 8. MEM answers back. McFadden turns the ball over the next play, and MEM scores on transition. Timeout
3:47, Up 67-63
SG David Williams is back (4 fouls). Williams immediately hits a jumper (38 pts). Up 6. MEM's PG Ryan Watson drives string to the hoop. Blocked by C Curtis Harper, and loose ball in our favor. Big defensive play by Harper there. On the other end, we went to Harper down low, and Harper scores!
2:20, Up 71-63
We got called for a foul, and we enter penalty. MEM splits. Up 7. SG David Williams drives, pulls up a jumper, and its good. Williams with 40 pts. Up 9. MEM's PG Ryan Watson gets his own jumper to go in as well. Watson with 21 pts. Up 7. Williams missed this time, but C Curtis Harper with a big offensive rebound, and Harper able to put it back for another 2 pts.
1:21, Up 73-64
MEM missed. I instructed the team to slow down, and hang on for the win.
4-peat CUSA Tournament Champions!
Final Score: Memphis - 68, Rice - 79
Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 40, 4, 3, 2 stls, 5 tos, 10-20 3PT (*)
McFadden 15, 6, 0, 5 tos
Harper 12, 7, 2, 2 stls, 2 blks, 3 tos
Brown 8, 5, 0, 3 tos
Evans 2, 2, 10, 2 stls
Fountain 2, 0, 0
Barker 0, 3, 3
Tiggs 0, 3, 1
Piatowski 0, 3, 0, 2 stls
Young 0, 0, 0
Phillips 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 52-46%
REB: +5
TO: +2
Pts in paint: +10
2nd chance: +3
Fast break: +4
[/INDENT]
Tip off
4th consecutive year we will be facing MEM in the conference tournament finals. We're 6-0 against MEM the last 6 meetings, but it was close during the last game where we beat them by just 2 pts. Round 2 between SG David Williams and MEM's PG Ryan Watson, who scored 39 and 28 pts respectively during our last meeting
What a flying start for SG David Williams, scoring 16 of our 1st 20 pts, to give us a 20-8 early lead. MEM had no answer to Williams the entire 1st half, as he finished with 30 pts (8 triples). SF Andre McFadden even connected on 3 shots from downtown. Still, MEM played good enough offense to keep themselves within striking distance. MEM's PG Ryan Watson with 12 pts.
Halftime, Up 51-36
Start of 2nd half
If MEM is going to get back in this game, it will be because of their defense. And MEM is indeed playing better defense at the start of the 2nd half
12:44, Up 60-48
It is MEM's turn to wax hot from the perimeter, and hit 3 straight triples. I also had to sit down SG David Williams because of 3 fouls. I was forced to call an early timeout
10:53, Up 63-57
We turned the ball over 3x during our last trips on offense. Fortunately, MEM wasn't able to capitalize.
7:24, Up 65-59
I bring back SG David Williams. A couple of plays later, Williams was called for a charge; his 4th foul. Williams has to sit again. Both teams trading turn overs, and offenses on both sides went cold. Tense moment, as whoever can come up even with a small run would have a big momentum shift.
4:40, Up 65-59
Finally SF Andre McFadden breaks the silence with a FG. Up 8. MEM answers back. McFadden turns the ball over the next play, and MEM scores on transition. Timeout
3:47, Up 67-63
SG David Williams is back (4 fouls). Williams immediately hits a jumper (38 pts). Up 6. MEM's PG Ryan Watson drives string to the hoop. Blocked by C Curtis Harper, and loose ball in our favor. Big defensive play by Harper there. On the other end, we went to Harper down low, and Harper scores!
2:20, Up 71-63
We got called for a foul, and we enter penalty. MEM splits. Up 7. SG David Williams drives, pulls up a jumper, and its good. Williams with 40 pts. Up 9. MEM's PG Ryan Watson gets his own jumper to go in as well. Watson with 21 pts. Up 7. Williams missed this time, but C Curtis Harper with a big offensive rebound, and Harper able to put it back for another 2 pts.
1:21, Up 73-64
MEM missed. I instructed the team to slow down, and hang on for the win.
4-peat CUSA Tournament Champions!
Final Score: Memphis - 68, Rice - 79
Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 40, 4, 3, 2 stls, 5 tos, 10-20 3PT (*)
McFadden 15, 6, 0, 5 tos
Harper 12, 7, 2, 2 stls, 2 blks, 3 tos
Brown 8, 5, 0, 3 tos
Evans 2, 2, 10, 2 stls
Fountain 2, 0, 0
Barker 0, 3, 3
Tiggs 0, 3, 1
Piatowski 0, 3, 0, 2 stls
Young 0, 0, 0
Phillips 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 52-46%
REB: +5
TO: +2
Pts in paint: +10
2nd chance: +3
Fast break: +4
[/INDENT]