D.J Stephens News

Coaches: Tigers, Josh Pastner ; SEMO, Dickey Nutt Series standing: SEMO leads, 2-1 Matchups Backcourt Willie Kemp vs.

The biggest play of the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team's season was almost a turnover.

After 39 minutes and 56 seconds of a game the University of Memphis did not deserve to win, here the Tigers were, somehow leading UMass by a point, needing to stare down their nemesis one last time.

Lately, Memphis has been making a habit of starting games slowly. The Tigers came out hot in the opening minutes of Wednesday's 76-51 win over Montana State, but the second half's opening minutes were not Memphis' best stretch.

You won't read these words often this season: The Memphis Tigers had too much size for tonight's opponent.

Brad LuttrellThe Commercial Appeal filesWith experienced players like Roburt Sallie in the lineup, it's been tough for U of M freshmen to get playing time.

With roughly three minutes left in the first half Saturday night, University of Memphis big man Will Coleman got caught on a bad switch and suddenly had to guard Arkansas State point guard Brandon Reed coming at him with a full head of steam at the top of the key.

Coaches: Tigers, Josh Pastner ; Arkansas State, John Brady Series standing: Memphis leads, 30-28 Matchups Backcourt Willie Kemp vs.

Elliot Williams, who led the Tigers with 20 points, drives on Oakland's Derick Nelson.

Want to know the first thing that went through new Tiger football coach Larry Porter's head when he was introduced to 15,689 adoring fans at FedExForum tonight? "How can I get this many people in the Liberty Bowl?" After the pregame lovefest, the Tiger basketball team continued its welcome of rookie coach Josh Pastner by beating Oakland University, ...

Mark WeberThe Commercial AppealMemphis' Will Coleman is fouled by Central Arkansas' Mike Pouncy.

Elliot Williams scored 20 points and Roburt Sallie added 17 as Memphis defeated Central Arkansas 81-49 on Tuesday night.

FedExForum, 7 p.m. Records: Tigers: 1-1; Tennessee Tech: 2-1 Coaches: Tigers, Josh Pastner ; Tennessee Tech, Mike Sutton Series standing: Memphis leads 24-22 TV, radio: No TV, WREC-AM , WKBQ-FM Matchups Backcourt Willie Kemp vs.

As he sat in the locker room, Sherron Collins could hear the crowd screaming. With an athletic trainer frantically working to alleviate the cramp squeezing Collins' right thigh, Collins watched the game on television.

Ht: 6-3 Pos: Post Class: Junior Q: What's the biggest challenge this season? A: Hopefully we'll all be able to come together as a team and play together and win games - not be selfish.

By Alex Byington Killeen Daily Herald HARKER HEIGHTS - Whenever a team loses its leading scorer to a Division I college, usually a team expects to experience some sort of drop-off. Not Harker Heights, where longtime coach Celneque Bobbitt believes a little youth will go a long way in continuing a four-year playoff streak into the future.

The Tigers were picked to finish second in Conference USA in a preseason poll of 21 media members conducted by the Orlando Sentinel and released Monday.

Memphis coach Josh Pastner is among those who understand that great programs aren't built overnight.

Willie Kemp battles LeMoyne-Owen teammates Jeremy Anderson and Maurice Mickens for a loose ball during the first half of their exhibition.

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Four freshmen swingmen -- Drew Barham, Tyler Foster, D.J, Stephens and Malik Thomas -- are being counted on to replenish the depth lost by four departing starters.