After slow start, Memphis surges past Bears, 81-49

MEMPHIS — In a continuing search for small victories in big places, the University of Central Arkansas Bears led the University of Memphis during the first two media timeouts Tuesday.

The Tigers went the first four minutes without a field goal.

Then, Memphis, only two years removed from the national title game, turned it on.

The Tigers found their touch from long range, and the Bears never found theirs from any range in a 81-49 victory in the FedEx Forum during another portion of the Hall of Fame Showcase multi-game season-opening event.

UCA (1-4) shot only 12 percent from the field the first half. Memphis (3-1) hit 12 of 24 3-point attempts and shot 54 percent for the game before 16,647.

“There were not enough baskets to stay with a team with the firepower they had,” said UCA coach Rand Chappell.

The Tigers only led 13-9 after 10 minutes and 18-12 with 7:31 at the half, then the Bears stalled offensively and Memphis found another gear.

It produced a 21-4 run that put things away for good.

The Bears had seven straight fruitless possessions and gave up four straight points on a steal, a layup and an intentional foul.

“It was kind of pick your poison,” Chappell said. “We didn’t want to give them some inside baskets early and they struggled, and we stayed in the ballgame the first 10 minutes. We played some good defense down that stretch. Then, we were maybe a bit slower getting out on their shooters, and they were able to stretch it out.”

In trailing 37-16, UCA shot 25 percent the first half.

In pulling away, the Tigers hit six of 14 3-pointers the first half and had a 15-0 advantage on points off turnovers.

Roburt Sallie and Elliott Willams, who first ignited the Tiger surge in the first half after they trailed most of the first eight minutes, hit 3-pointers to quickly push the Memphis lead past 30 in the second half.

Memphis had a 25-5 edge on points off turnovers and hit 15 of 20 free throws. UCA was 17 of 28 from the foul line and 15 of 38 (39.5 percent) from the field.

Mitch Rueter (five of 10 from the field and six of 10 from the line) led UCA with 17 points. Mike Pouncy added 12.

Williams (seven of 15 from the field) led Memphis with 20 points. Sallie (five of eight) added 17 and Willie Kemp 11.

The Bears scored five more points than they did against Kansas and got to play in the home of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

“Two of the programs we just played, Kansas and Memphis, are two of the highest-resourced programs in the country,” Chappell said. “I wanted our team to play hard from the opening stretch. We came in to compete to win but mainly we tried to take a step forward and we took a little step forward.

“We will be a better basketball team in two weeks and a much better one in six weeks.”