Savannah St. Tigers Related Links: Team Page Schedule Stats

Memphis Tigers Related Links: Team Page Schedule Stats

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Memphis tipped off a new era with an overpowering performance.

Rodney Carney paced six players in double figures with 21 points as No. 23 Memphis pounded Savannah State, 102-40, in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at FedExForum.

After playing the last 13 years at the Pyramid, the Tigers are sharing the plush new arena with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Carney, who averaged 13 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, shot 7-of-12 from the floor. He made 3-of-5 shots from behind the arc and added four assists in 24 minutes. The junior scored 12 points in the first half as the Tigers raced to a 55-22 advantage.

"Overall, it was a pretty good effort," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "I loved the way we swung the ball and moved the ball. We rebounded offensively."

Memphis will play George Mason on Saturday in the second round with the winner advancing to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden on November 18. George Mason was a 59-51 winner over IPFW in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader.

Memphis got 39 points and 37 rebounds from its bench.

Reserve freshman Joey Dorsey had 10 points and 16 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end, in his first game for Memphis, which won its 22nd straight home contest.

"Joey Dorsey had a great shoot-around today, that led to this," Calipari said. "He's learning. He just doesn't know that the shoot-around is serious business and its preparing you for the game. 16 rebounds is a pretty good number for a freshman and the biggest thing was that he got rebounds that we haven't had and it was good to see it."

Anthony Rice had 17 points and five assists and Darius Washington added 10 and eight for the Tigers, who shot just over 48 percent (37-for-77) and outrebounded Savannah State, 58-36.

"We're deep enough now so that if anybody doesn't bring it defensively, I'm taking them out," Calipari said. "The best friend I have is that bench. I'm not worried about our opponents. Right now it's about our team getting better."

Josh Barker scored 12 points for Savannah State, which shot just 25 percent (16-for-64) and committed 22 turnovers.

"I knew Memphis had a lot of guys that could shoot the basketball but I did not know they could should it that well," Savannah State coach Edward Daniels said . "Memphis was much more physical than I thought they were."

Savannah State will play IPFW in the consolation round Saturday.