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Memphis Tigers 76, Montana State 51

You won’t read these words often this season: The Memphis Tigers had too much size for tonight’s opponent. Memphis blocked 10 shots and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds to earn its fifth straight blowout win in the finale to the team’s longest homestand of the season. In contrast to their slow start last Saturday against Arkansas State, the Tigers raced out to a 21-7 lead 12 minutes into the game and all but coasted the rest of the way against MSU.

Elliot Williams

  • Larry Kuzniewski
  • Elliot Williams

Wesley Witherspoon came off the bench to score 13 points and pull down eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Elliot Williams led the team in scoring (as he has all seven games this season) with 22 points. It was Williams’ sixth straight 20-point outing. Roburt Sallie filled the stat sheet as well, with eight points, seven rebounds, and seven assists (and only one turnover).

In what amounts to the season’s opening act — a series of games against quite beatable opponents — the Tigers won their five home games since their narrow loss to top-ranked Kansas by an average score of 28 points. Williams, for one, feels the team has made some progress with all the home cooking, but sees an advantage to getting back on the road (Saturday night in Little Rock against Arkansas-Little Rock).

By Frank Murtaugh

Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis magazine. He's covered sports for the Flyer for two decades. "From My Seat" debuted on the Flyer site in 2002 and "Tiger Blue" in 2009.