College basketball

Memphis D steps up to stifle Gonzaga star

By wire services
Published December 28, 2005

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Adam Morrison impressed the fourth-ranked Memphis Tigers with his ability to score.

That didn't stop them from shutting him down when it mattered most.

Darius Washington had 22 points and 10 assists, and the Tigers held the nation's leading scorer without a point in the final 9:31 in holding off No. 8 Gonzaga 83-72 on Tuesday night.

Memphis coach John Calipari said Morrison knew he could score with Tigers senior forward Rodney Carney guarding him in the post. So he asked freshman Shawne Williams to guard Morrison despite having three fouls.

"I said, "Look man, if we don't stop him right now, we are not winning this game because he will go nuts,' and Shawne Williams went in and stopped him," Calipari said.

Williams also had help from Chris Douglas-Roberts, Robert Dozier and Antonio Anderson in slowing Morrison. The preseason All-American didn't score after his basket put Gonzaga up 62-59 with 9:31 left.

Morrison said the Tigers collapsed on him and denied him good looks at the basket. His left thumb was wrapped with tape that wound around his wrist after he jammed his finger in last week's victory over Saint Louis, but he refused to use that as an excuse.

"I missed too many 8-footers in the lane, but part of it was Memphis' defense," Morrison said.

Memphis (10-1) continued its best start since 1985-86, winning its seventh straight in the first game between Top 10 teams involving the Tigers in Memphis since 1985-86.

NO. 20 NEVADA 56, NORFOLK ST. 46: Marcelus Kemp scored eight of his 15 points a key second-half stretch, and Nick Fazekas added 14 to help the Wolf Pack overcome 37.5 percent shooting.

Mo Charlo and Kyle Shiloh each had seven rebounds and Ramon Sessions seven assists for Nevada (9-1), off to its best start since 1978 and 33-4 at home over the past three seasons.

NO. 13 BC 81, DUQUESNE 69: Craig Smith scored 21 and held off a late Dukes comeback bid by scoring on three consecutive Eagles possessions. McLain got Boston College (9-2) going during a 16-4 run midway through the second half that built its lead to 64-49 and helped it win its third in a row.

MIAMI 65, STETSON 56: Guillermo Diaz scored 18 and Robert Hite 17, helping the host Hurricanes (7-5) pull away in the second half and extend the Hatters' losing streak to 15 games dating to last season.

VA. TECH 74, WILLIAM & MARY 64: Coleman Collins had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the host Hokies (9-3).

SYRACUSE 86, TOWSON 52: Gerry McNamara had 20 points, seven assists and five steals to make his homecoming special, and Demetris Nichols added 25 points as the visiting Orange (10-2) won its seventh straight.

McNamara, who grew up in nearby Scranton and led Bishop Hannan High School to a state championship as a senior, was greeted with a standing ovation by the crowd of 8,209 at sold-out Wachovia Arena. He responded by hitting four 3-pointers.

ST. JOHN'S 63, COLUMBIA 39: Anthony Mason Jr. scored a career-high 15 as the Red Storm (6-4) snapped a three-game skid in the opening round of the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. St. John's was missing junior guard and leading scorer Daryll Hill, who will miss at least one more game with a left knee injury.

PROVIDENCE 80, SAN DIEGO ST. 65: Geoff McDermott had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Jonathan Kale 15 points and 12 rebounds and for the host Friars (6-4).

TENNESSEE 93, ALABAMA A&M 68: Chris Lofton scored 19 to lead the host Volunteers (7-1). Tennessee spent last week in the Top 25 for the first time since late in the 2000-01 season but dropped out after a loss at Oklahoma State.

ALABAMA 101, JACKSON ST. 66: Richard Hendrix had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Jermareo Davidson had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the host Crimson Tide (6-4).

S. CAROLINA: The Gamecocks plan to retire BJ McKie's No. 3 jersey before today's game against Pittsburgh. McKie is the school's all-time leader with 2,119 points.

ST. BONAVENTURE 69, FIU 65 (OT): Michael Lee and Paul Williams each had 18 points as the Bonnies snapped a 30-game road losing streak in the opening round of FIU's Holiday Classic. Williams forced overtime with a dunk that tied it at 59.

SO. MISS. 68, W. FLA. 59: Courtney Beasley scored a career-high 20 for the host Golden Eagles (5-7), who have won three of four.

TAMPA 80, HILLSDALE 73: Mark Borders had 24 points, 14 in the second half, and Chris Evans had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host Spartans (9-2).

TEXAS A&M 81, TEXAS SO. 56: Joseph Jones had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Acie Law also scored 15 and the host Aggies (9-0) outscored the Tigers 42-16 inside.

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 00:37:18]