MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Warren Edney scored a career-high 24 points while Jonathan Han added 18 points and seven assists as the Fairfield University men's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a 90-63 loss to 12^th-ranked University of Memphis at FedEx Forum.

            The score does not indicate how the Stags played against one of the toughest defensive teams in the country. Memphis held opponents to under 35 percent from the field a year ago, but the Stags shot 50 percent from the floor in the season opener. And, Fairfield netted eight of 18 three-point shots for 44 percent.

            "We went up against a very good team tonight," Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "I liked that our team came out and held a nine-point lead and was not intimidated by the 17,000 fans. We fought back in the second half to trail by 11 points with about 10 minutes to go and that shows me something."

            The first half belonged to sophomore Warren Edney, as the forward tallied a career high 16 points in the first 20 minutes of the game. He netted six of his seven field goal attempts and all three free throws. Behind his effort, the Stags were able to build a nine-point lead at 16-7 with 14:26 remaining in the half.

            "Warren grew up tonight," Cooley said. "We've been seeing this coming in practice for some time. He showed his ability and what he can do tonight. I am very proud of his performance."

            Memphis found its stroke at that point though and reeled off nine straight points over the next four minutes to tie the game at 16-16. Fairfield did not seem fazed by the run or by the raucous crowd as the Stags stayed within their offense and regained the lead on their next possession. Jonathan Han worked the ball to Edney, who knocked a three-point to push Fairfield back in front at 19-16. The forward was responsible for 12 of the Stags' first 19 points.

            Turnovers began to find their way into the Fairfield offense from that point. In the first eight minutes of the game, the Stags turned the ball over just four times. Over the next 12 minutes, the team recorded 11 miscues. Memphis took full advantage of those turnovers, turning Fairfield's 15 first-half turnovers into 19 points.

            The Tigers finished the final 10 minutes of the half with a 29-11 run that put the 12^th-ranked team in front by a 45-30 count at halftime.

            Memphis started the second half quickly, outscoring Fairfield by an 8-2 count in the first three minutes to go up by 21 points at 53-32. But as Coach Cooley pointed out, this team did not fold and battled back to pull within 11 points at 57-46 with 13:18 on the clock. Most of the damage was done with the three-point shot as Han, Edney, and Greg Nero hit from behind the arc on consecutive possessions during the run.

            The lead remained at 11 points with 10 minutes remaining following Han's three pointers to make the score 62-51. Memphis answered with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to push the lead back to 20 points at 71-51 at the 8:12 mark. The closest Fairfield came after that run was 17 points at 72-55 with six minutes remaining.

            Fairfield returns to action when it hosts Sacred Heart University at the Arena at Harbor Yard on November 18. Game time is slated for 7:30 pm.