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Zags get best of Memphis with 66-58 win

Memphis forward Pierre Henderson-Niles, bottom, lands on the floor as Gonzaga guard Matt Bouldin (15) pulls away during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Lance Murphey / Fr78211 Ap)
Memphis forward Pierre Henderson-Niles, bottom, lands on the floor as Gonzaga guard Matt Bouldin (15) pulls away during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Lance Murphey / Fr78211 Ap)
The Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Matt Bouldin scored 19 points and No. 17 Gonzaga pulled away at the end for a 66-58 victory over Memphis on Saturday. Robert Sacre added 13 points and Steven Gray finished with 12, despite shooting 4 of 12 from the field for Gonzaga (19-4). Gray had seven rebounds. Wesley Witherspoon led Memphis (16-7) with 26 points, hitting eight of his 11 shots, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers. Elliot Williams finished with 11 points for the Tigers, who lost their second game in the last three. Gonzaga led 58-57 after Will Coleman, who had nine points and eight rebounds, scored inside with 1:35 left. But Sacre scored inside and Bouldin hit two free throws to give the Bulldogs enough breathing room for their 11th win in the last 12. Neither team shot well. Gonzaga converted 41.1 percent (23 of 56), while Memphis managed to shoot 39.6 percent (19 of 48). Gonzaga held a 36-31 advantage on the boards, including 13 on the offensive glass. Gonzaga went on a 9-0 run to take a 28-23 halftime lead. Bouldin was 3 of 6 in the half for eight points, but the Bulldogs shot 37 percent (10 of 27), while Memphis was 8 of 22 (36.4 percent). The Tigers were hampered by nine turnovers to go with their poor shooting. Witherspoon led Memphis with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, missing only one of his three 3-point attempts. Gonzaga extended its lead to nine as Sacre began to score inside. Witherspoon was carrying the Tigers, and Memphis was hurting its own cause by misfiring from the free throw line, ending the game 14 of 26. Memphis’ 9-0 run allowed it to take a 53-51 lead with 4:48 left on a layup by Kemp. From there, the teams exchanged leads until Gonzaga extended a 58-57 lead by closing the game on an 8-1 run.