The matchup between the Tigers and the Cincinatti Bearcats proved to be the best matchup of the season.
The Tigers were ready to show the Bearcats just what it was like to play in the "Tomb of Doom ."
Freshman center Modibo Diarra hit the first two points for the Tigers and the crowd went wild.
Then a jumper from Shannon Forman sent the Tigers off to the races which helped turn things into a long night for Cincinatti, especially with the superjam from Kelly Wise at the beginning of the first quarter.
Memphis was on a roll, Courtney Trask entered the game in the first half and lit up the hoop with a three point basket to send the Tigers into the lead 22-21.
Marcus Moody followed with a sweet jumper that vaulted the crowd into an electric frenzy.
With 1:09 left in the first half, Wise blocked a crucial shot and a foul committed by Cincinnati helped the Tigers.
Right before halftime Marcus Moody hit a three point shot which gave Memphis the lead 36-32 with 43 seconds left to go in the half.
A foul by Cincinnati guard Kenny Satterfield sent Shamel Jones to the line.
He split the free throws and the Tigers led 37-32 at the half.
Wise kicked off the second half scoring on a drive to the basket.
Later in the half, Wise blocked another shot and the crowd cheered so loud that for a minute, killed any spirit that the Bearcats tried to muster up.
Soon after the Bearcats went on a quick run and forced the Tigers to take a 30 second timeout with 9:19 left to go, the game was tied at 51.
Jones helped the Tigers regain their composure when he scored a crucial two points which tied the game again at 53.
Shyrone Chatman split traffic and took it the hole putting Memphis up by two.
After a foul was committed by Chatman with 5:41 left to go, Jones helped the Tigers tip the scales with his impressive drive to basket for two helped and the Tigers hang on to the lead 57-54.
With 5:29 left to go B.J. Grove quieted the crowd with a smooth jumper.
Wise answered spinning in the lane sending the crowd back on to their feet, but not without a reply from Donald Little who did more than once.
By this time there was 3:29 reamaining on the clock and the game was tied 59-59.
With 2:39 Barron was charged with his 4th foul and the teams 7th foul.
Shannon Foreman went to the line wit 2:21 left to go and converted both shots.
The game was then tied at 61.
With 1:29 left, Barron fouled out sending Little to the line to shoot the one-and-one.
He missed and Jones shoved and pass to Wise for the a super slam that put the Tigers up 63-61.
Soon after Little scored and Jones answered, the Tigers led 65-64.
After the Cincinnati timeout Satterfield came out shooting and it was all over. The Bearcats went up 66-65 with 0.9 left to go and they never looked back.
Coach Calipari called timeout but Memphis was unable to recover. The Bearcats went on to win.
Calipari said he was a little dissapointed about the game but his players fought hard and he takes nothing away from Cincinatti.
"I told my team that whoever had the ball last would win the game," Calipari said. "They had the ball last, we were just one play away."
Two Tigers had double-doubles. Wise finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and Jones had a career high of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Bearcat Steve Logan stunned the Tigers with 27 points.
Saterfield and Little each finished with 11.
The Tigers travel to Charlotte on Feb. 17 to face to the 49ers in another tough Conference USA matchup.
