March 11, 2006

GAME 11: (1) Memphis 57, (2) UAB 46

Memphis (30-3) is the first team in the nation to reach 30 wins this season and only the second team in Conference USA history to win 30 games in a season. The 2001-02 Cincinnati Bearcats were 31-4.

A crowd of 16,607 at FedEx Forum watched as the Tigers won their first C-USA Tournament title and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The last time Memphis won a conference tournament was the 1987 Metro Tournament.

Memphis forward Shawne Williams, the C-USA Freshman of the Year, scored 13 points and was three of five from three-point range in the first half. He finished the contest with a game-high 18 points. Williams was named the tournament MVP after scoring in double figures in three games.

Tiger forward Joey Dorsey recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

UAB did not score its first field goal until the 12:57 mark. The Blazers missed their first 12 shots of the game. Memphis went on to limit UAB to only 26.7% shooting for the game (16-60).

The Blazers were led by Paul Delaney's 14 points and six rebounds. UAB is now 24-6 heading into the post season.

Memphis placed three players on the all-tournament team. In addition to MVP Shawne Williams, U of M's Rodney Carney and Joey Dorsey were selected to the squad. Joining the Tiger trio was UAB's Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson and UTEP's Jason Williams.

Memphis, the No. 1 seed, continued an interesting C-USA Championship trend. All 11 Conference USA Tournament championships have been won by teams holding an odd-numbered seed.