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Kemp, Dozier lead second-half flurry as Memphis downs Kentucky

Nov 22, 2006 - 11:47 PM MAUI, Hawaii (Ticker) -- Willie Kemp showed the skills that earned him Mr. Basketball honors in the state of Tennessee last season.

The freshman point guard ignited a second-half blitz that propelled No. 11 Memphis over 22nd-ranked Kentucky, 80-63, in the third-place game of the Maui Invitational.

In the first all-time meeting between the schools, Robert Dozier added 15 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, which held a 38-27 edge on the boards, including 11-5 on the offensive end.

Memphis (3-1) held a 43-40 edge at halftime before blowing open the game in the second half behind Kemp, who entered shooting 8-for-25 in his first three games. After going 0-for-3 in the first half, Kemp scored 10 of the Tigers' 12 points in the first four minutes of the second half to forge a 55-46 edge.

Kemp hit consecutive 3-pointers and a pair of layups during the spurt. He averaged 18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.7 assists for Bolivar Central High School last season.

After giving up a 19-point first-half lead to Georgia Tech in Tuesday's 92-85 semifinal setback, Memphis took total command with a 14-0 run for a 73-50 lead with 8:22 to play.

Joey Dorsey started the burst with a pair of dunks, Dozier scored five points and Antonio Anderson capped the spurt with a shot from the arc.

Memphis shot a blistering 59 percent (16-of-27) in the second half to finish at 51 percent (32-of-63) for the game.

Chris Douglas-Roberts and Jeremy Hunt - who hit three shots from the arc in the first 12 minutes - finished with 13 points each for the Tigers, who held a 44-20 edge in points in the paint and a 26-11 advantage in bench points.

Randolph Morris had 18 points and eight rebounds and Joe Crawford netted three 3-pointers en route to 15 points for the Wildcats (3-2), who left the Maui Invitational with a losing record for the first time in four trips.

Kentucky, which committed 18 turnovers, was within three at the half due to nearly 55 percent (12-of-22) shooting from the field and 12 free throws. It finished just 44 percent (21-of-48) after a sluggish second half.