When or if the Tigers ever land a spot in a BCS conference, here’s hoping the U of M brass finds a way to retain an annual game with UAB. It may not be Memphis-Louisville, but the Tigers and Blazers historically play games that make college basketball the spectacle it still can be. Tonight’s tilt at FedExForum is likely the best game Memphis fans will see this winter, and every bit as good as most Big East, ACC, or Pac 10 affairs.
After 31 lead changes — read that again, 31 lead changes — the Tigers pulled away over the last four minutes to give the Blazers only their fourth loss of the season (against 18 wins), and second straight in C-USA play. Memphis is now tied with UAB at 6-2 in C-USA, a game behind Tulsa and UTEP (playing Houston tonight in El Paso).
- Larry Kuzniewski
- Elliot Williams in traffic
The Tigers trailed at the half, 32-31, but enjoyed the last of 21 second-half lead changes for their 16th win of the season. (Read that again: 21 second-half lead changes.) Wesley Witherspoon led the way for Memphis with a career-high 29 points, followed by Elliot Williams with 25. (The two combined to make 15 of 23 shots from the field and 23 of 26 free throws.) Williams add seven assists in what he called the team’s biggest win of the season.
