KASAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Roburt Sallie had the game of his life with 35 points, and second-seeded Memphis beat Cal State-Northridge 81-70 Thursday to avoid what would have been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history.

Sallie, who was averaging barely 4 points for the Tigers (32-3), sank 10 of 15 3-pointers, a first-round tournament record.

The Matadors (17-14), 19-point underdogs who overcame a sequence of tragedy and off-the-court problems just to reach the tourney, took advantage of miserable shooting by most of the other Tigers and led by six points with 10:08 to play.

But a few minutes later, Antonio Anderson led the Tigers on a 9-0 run and last year's NCAA national runners-up finally took control.

Since the NCAA went to a 64-team format in 1985, only four no. 2 seeds have lost to a no. 15 in the first round.

(Copyright 2009 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)