Jan 12, 2002

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Earl Barron and freshman Dejuan Wagner each scored 17 points, and Kelly Wise added 16 points and 10 rebounds in leading Memphis to a 78-70 victory over Tulane in a Conference USA game Saturday.

Memphis (13-4 overall, 3-0 CUSA) opened to a 40-35 halftime lead, then survived an 8-2 surge by Tulane (9-5, 1-2) that trimmed the Tigers' lead to 55-53 with 9:17 remaining.

But Barron hit a 3-point goal from the top of the key, Chris Massie scored in the paint and Barron dunked off a fast break to push Memphis' lead 62-53 with 5:57 to go. Tulane would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Scooter McFadgon added 10 points for Memphis, which survived a career-high 29 points by Tulane's Brandon Brown.

Brown went 13-for-18 on his field goal attempts and 3-for-5 from the foul line for the Green Wave. He was joined in double figures by Brandon Spann with 14 points and Waitari Marsh with 10 points and a game-high eight assists.