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Mack, Memphis down Chattanooga

Nov 21, 2008 - 8:42 AM SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Ticker) -- Doneal Mack scored 19 points to lead 12th-ranked Memphis to an 83-71 victory over Chattanooga on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Mack shot 7-of-12 from the field, knocking down five 3-pointers. The sophomore guard also had three rebounds and four assists as the Tigers (3-0) cruised to their third straight double-digit win.

"We lose the game without him," coach John Calipari told the Commercial Appeal.

While Mack provided an outside scoring threat, forwards Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart helped Memphis control the paint.

Dozier poured in 18 points with eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Taggart finished with 14 points and eight boards.

The Tigers faced a 21-16 deficit midway through the first half but went on a 25-10 run after a timeout. Mack, who started the burst with a pair of 3-pointers, went 4-of-4 from the arc during that stretch.

"I was dead tired," Mack told the newspaper. "But once I saw we couldn't hit an open shot, I told coach put me back in. I know I'm going to drill some."

While the game never was in doubt after Memphis took a 47-35 lead into the break, the Mocs (0-3) did not allow the Tigers to turn the contest in a rout thanks to strong performances from Stephen McDowell and Nicchaeus Doaks.

"We wanted to put them away, and usually when we get teams down 19 we do," Mack said. "But I'll give it to Chattanooga. They kept fighting, and we did some stuff to let them back in the game."

McDowell recorded 27 points and made seven 3-pointers, and Doaks added 15 with 16 rebounds before fouling out with less than two minutes to play.

Freshman standout Tyreke Evans, who had 19 points in each of his first two games, finished with 11 in this one for Memphis. He also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Tigers will face Seton Hall in the semifinals.