SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Boogie Ellis led all scorers with a career-high 24 points, including 20 in the first half, to lead Memphis to an impressive 73-56 win over Saint Mary's in the opening game of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic at the Sanford Pentagon in the season opener for both teams. Ellis made a career-high-tying six 3-pointers.
Ellis, whose previous career-high was 22 points vs. UIC in the second game of last season, scored nearly half of the Tigers' first half points as Memphis led 43-26 at intermission. In the opening half, Ellis made all but one of his eight shots, including a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range that featured a steal and half-court shot just before the halftime buzzer.