Memphis gained a measure of revenge for one of its most embarrassing losses of the season with a thorough dismantling of the Pirates in Greenville Sunday afternoon. Avery Woodson scored 20 points and hit six of ten shots from three-point range to lead the Tigers. The score was tied at 20 twelve minutes into the game before the Tigers enjoyed an 11-2 run keyed by back-to-back Woodson treys. The Memphis lead ballooned to 15 by halftime and the Tigers only extended the margin in the second half.
Now 17-14, the Tigers will enter the American Athletic Conference tournament as the sixth seed and face Tulsa in a quarterfinal Friday night in Orlando. Memphis finished the regular season with a record of 8-10 in league play.
The Pirates’ B.J. Tyson was held to 12 points, less than half his total (26) in ECU’s 84-83 upset of the Tigers at FedExForum in late January. ECU (12-19) shot 38 percent overall while the Tigers hit 54 percent from the field, including 10 of 23 from beyond the arc.
Dedric Lawson scored 14 points for the Tigers and grabbed six rebounds to clinch the AAC rebounding title. Shaq Goodwin added 17 points and Trahson Burrell 13.
