By CLAY BAILEY
Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Tarik Black scored 18 points, Geron
Johnson added 14 and Memphis built a double-digit first-half
lead to defeat Austin Peay 83-65 on Saturday.



Black connected on 8 of 13 shots and Johnson was 7 of 13 from
the floor, helping the Tigers (6-2) shoot 52.1 percent for the
game (37 of 71).



Joe Jackson had 12 points and D.J. Stephens had 10 points,
mostly on dunks for Memphis. Johnson also had seven rebounds,
six assists and four steals.



Travis Betran scored 27 points on 9 of 15 shooting for the
Governors (4-5). Betran missed only one of his six shots from
outside the arc. Will Triggs had 17 points for Austin Peay.



While the Governors managed to shoot 50 percent (24 of 48), they
committed 28 turnovers. Memphis committed 23 turnovers.



Memphis was never threatened after a rally before the midway
point of the first half erased an early Austin Peay lead.



Memphis forced 17 Austin Peay turnovers in the first half to
help the Tigers build a 43-30 lead at intermission.



No Memphis player was in double figures as the Tigers shot 58.1
percent (18 of 31). And while Memphis committed 13 turnovers, it
seemed minor compared to the Governors.



Austin Peay was 11 of 19 from the field (57.9 percent), but the
turnovers prevented them from getting any momentum.



And, if not for Betran, things would have been much worse.
Betran hit six of his seven shots in the half, part of scoring
18 of the Governors' 30 points.



Austin Peay held an early lead, but after the first media
timeout, the Tigers started a 17-2 run that included 13 straight
at one point, building the Memphis advantage to 23-10.



The Tigers eventually would extend the lead to as many as 17
with 8 minutes left in the half.



Memphis maintained a sizeable advantage throughout the second
half, the lead eventually reaching 21 in the final 5 minutes.