Memphis, TN -- (Sports Network) - Tyreke Evans scored 19 points and had five rebounds, as the 13th-ranked Memphis Tigers opened their 2008-09 season with a 90-63 rout of Fairfield.

Shawn Taggart recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers (1-0), who are coming off a solid 2007-08 campaign, which saw Memphis win 38 games against just two defeats. Unfortunately, the second loss occurred in last year's national title game against Kansas.

Doneal Mack collected 14 points, while Antonio Anderson added 12 points and dished out seven assists for Memphis.

"We shot 80 percent from the line. It's nice to know when you get fouled -- and we will be a team that gets fouled -- that we can go to the line and make free throws," said Memphis coach John Calipari. "When you add eight points to a game, instead of having 82 you have 90 and you have a gap that gets you something."

Warren Edney poured in a game-best 24 points for Fairfield (0-1), which posted a 14-16 record last year. Jonathan Han had 18 points and seven assists in a losing effort.

"To come into this environment with the team I have, I am really proud of our kids," said Fairfield coach Ed Cooley. "The fact that we can shoot 50 percent against a defensive team like that is really a credit to our players. We just turned the ball over. The end of discussion is if you turn the ball over like that, you might as well go home. We had 26 turnovers. I don't think we have turned the ball over that much in five games."

Fairfield raced out to a 16-7 lead, but the Tigers scored nine straight points to tie the game with 11 minutes remaining. Edney then nailed a three-pointer, and a Ryan Olander bucket restored a five-point edge for the Stags.

Anderson's trey tied the game at 23, and Robert Dozier sank a pair of free throws to give the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish.

Memphis carried a 45-30 advantage into the break and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the contest.

Game Notes

The Tigers shot 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the field, while Fairfield was just as efficient, converting 50 percent (24-of-48) of its shots...Greg Nero had 10 points for Fairfield...Dozier totaled 10 points and five rebounds.