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News Nuggets, 01.08.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Memphis faces Winthrop in tune-up for ECU

Memphis bounced back nicely after its second loss of the season. Now, the fourth-ranked Tigers will look to gain some momentum before their conference opener at East Carolina when they host Winthrop on Sunday in the first meeting between the schools.

The Tigers (12-2) lost 69-58 Monday to No. 15 Texas in perhaps their ugliest performance of the season, shooting a season-low 28.6 percent and scoring 26 points below their season average.

However, Memphis rebounded with a commanding 83-50 win over Middle Tennessee two nights later. The Tigers hit six of their first eight shots — after missing 13 of their first 14 against the Longhorns — and shot 50 percent from the field.

"To have that kind of energy after that Texas game and to have one day in between shows that we bounce back quickly," coach John Calipari said. "We did what we were supposed to do. All I was concerned with was how we guarded, and I thought we were tremendous."

Rodney Carney had a team-high 19 points, and Joey Dorsey scored 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting and had nine rebounds and six blocks.

"We have been working on my hooks, right- and left-handed, trying to get me comfortable with the touch in my fingertips," Dorsey said. "It worked out well."

Memphis' only other loss this season came to top-ranked Duke in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship game. The Tigers, who are shooting 43 percent from the field this season, have recorded wins against eighth-ranked Gonzaga, No. 17 UCLA and then-No. 15 Alabama.

"Offensively, we were back to passing it to each other," Calipari said. "We were back to making easy plays. We didn't turn it over as much. We did some good stuff."

The Tigers (7-3) are wrapping up a six-game homestand against the Eagles. Memphis will travel to East Carolina on Wednesday for their C-USA opener. The Pirates (6-7) came from behind to defeat St. Paul's 80-74 on Saturday in their final test before the Tigers come to town.

Winthrop — which thrashed ECU 70-48 on Dec. 18 — is coming off an 84-43 win Thursday over Birmingham-Southern in its Big South opener. All three of the Eagles' losses have come on the road this season.

Michael Jenkins scored a career-high 16 points and James Shuler scored the first seven points of the game and finished with 15.

The win was the largest ever against a Big South opponent for Winthrop, which beat UNC-Asheville by 40 points in 2000.

C-USA Basketball Standings, Scores & Schedule

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:44 PM