PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Sophomore guard Darius Washington emerged as a dominant force in the second half for No. 7 Memphis, and helped hold off a challenge by Providence.
Rodney Carney and Chris Douglas-Roberts carried the bulk of the load in the first half for Memphis, and Washington stepped up in the second half with a combination of free throws, layups and a three-pointer to finish with 20 points in the Tigers' 97-89 win over the Friars on Saturday night.
Washington scored 10 points, including a three-pointer that put Memphis (7-1) up 84-75 in the second half. He shot 7-for-10 from the field, 2-for-3 from 3-point range and 4-for-5 from the line.
"I just had the open shots and knocked them down," said Washington, who entered the game as the team's second-leading scorer.
"I thought Darius Washington really played a heady game," Memphis coach John Calipari said.
Carney shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range and finished with 17 points.
"Rodney in the first half was unbelievable," Calipari said. "He just made every play."
The Tigers' win overshadowed the performance of Providence guard Donnie McGrath, who scored a career-high 28 points and shot 5-for-9 from long distance. The senior fouled out with less than a minute to play and received a standing ovation from fans at the Dunkin' Donuts Center as he walked to the bench.
Center Randall Hanke added 18 points for the Friars, and DeSean White scored all 14 of his points in the first half.
Calipari said he doesn't mind high-scoring contests, but he wants his team to allow fewer points.
"We have to defend better, that's what we have to do," Calipari said. "I have no problem with us playing this way."
Despite Memphis' success -- its only loss of the season came against top-ranked Duke -- Calipari said he was warning his team not to become bored with winning.
Providence drew within three points after a pair of free-throws by Herbert Hill with less than six minutes to play in the second half. But Memphis went on a six-point run, and the Friars never got closer.
"How are teams going to scout us now?" Washington asked. "We have an inside and outside presence. That's torture."
Providence (3-4) lost its fourth straight game, including its second straight to a ranked team. The Friars lost to Florida 87-77 on Tuesday.
"They have great athletes and a great program," Providence coach Tim Welsh said. "I think that's a team that could go to the Final Four."
Douglas-Roberts scored 16 for Memphis, and Joey Dorsey had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
