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Mack carries Memphis into championship game in Puerto Rico

Nov 22, 2008 - 5:51 AM SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Ticker) -- Doneal Mack decided not to transfer and Memphis couldn't be happier - especially since Derrick Rose is now being paid to play.

Mack scored 16 points in leading No. 12 Memphis to an 84-70 victory over Seton Hall on Friday in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic.

Willie Kemp had 14 points and freshman Tyreke Evans added 12 points for the Tigers (4-0), who hit 30-of-46 free throws and will face Xavier in the championship game on Sunday.

A junior guard, Mack announced during the summer that he would transfer, citing a lack of playing time as his reason.

However, Mack had a change of heart and has taken on a prominent role early for a Tigers' team that lost Rose to the NBA following a stellar freshman season. Memphis also lost its leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts and top rebounder Joey Dorsey to the pros.

Mack was key in the opening round win over Tennessee-Chattanooga, knocking down five 3-pointers en route to a team-high 19 points.

The Tigers were able to overcome 20 second-half points from Jeremy Hazell, who helped the Pirates (3-1) upset No. 20 Southern California on Thursday. Hazell finished with a career-high 32 points on 9-of-21 shooting.

Seton Hall was hampered by turnovers. The Pirates turned the ball over 18 times - 11 in the first half that led to 16 points. They also lost the rebounding battle, 46-36.

Memphis led, 44-30, at the half and expanded that lead to 24 at 70-46 with 8:42 remaining on a layup by Wesley Witherspoon.

Eugene Harvey had 21 points for Seton Hall, which shot 40 percent (22-of-54) from the floor and fell to 1-11 vs. ranked teams under head coach Bobby Gonzalez.

It was the first meeting between the schools since 1974. The Tigers hold a 3-1 lead in the all-time series.