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Memphis hosts Pepperdine aiming to stay undefeated

Jan 5, 2008 - 2:10 PM Pepperdine (5-9) at No. 2 Memphis (12-0) 1:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Second-ranked Memphis looks to close out its non-conference schedule undefeated when it hosts Pepperdine on Saturday.

Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half and freshman Jeff Robinson had season highs with 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as Memphis coasted to a 102-58 rout of Siena on Thursday.

Douglas-Roberts, the teams leading scorer, made his first six shots of the game as the Tigers opened a 25-point halftime time lead en route to their 39th straight home win.

"We needed a game like this," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "For us right now, we just have to smother defensively, come ready to play, play a lot of people and do the individual work."

Calipari should be familiar with Pepperdine's style of play after implementing certain aspects of the Waves offense following a meeting with coach Vance Walberg in 2003. The two coaches now talk regularly and were the primary speakers at a coaches' clinic in Memphis in September.

Despite the coaching conferences, the Waves have struggled this season, dropping five of their last nine meetings - including an 80-79 loss to Manhattan during their last game on December 21.

This contest is closing out a season-high 10-game road trip for the Waves.