Memphis defeats UCF in close game

            Memphis had just six players score, but four players had double digits. Dedric Lawson had 14, and Markel Crawford and Jimario Rivers had 12 each.

            The Knights out rebounded the Tigers 41-28, but UCF struggled to take care of the ball with 16 turnovers.

            Memphis took advantage of the Knights poor ball handling and scored 22 points off the turnovers.

            Despite having struggled from the line in recent games, 9-21 against Houston, the Tigers shot near 80 percent from the charity stripe going 18-23.

            UCF started the game off on a 10-0 run by making two threes followed by two layups. The Tigers started 0-4 from the field until K.J. Lawson hit a three to start an 8-0 Memphis run.

            Dedric Lawson followed his brother with another deep ball, and Jimario Rivers made a short corner jumper.

            After a three by Markel Crawford brought the Tigers within one (17-16), the Knights went on a 7-0 run led by five points from seven-foot, six-inch center, Tacko Fall.  

            About halfway through the first half, Dedric picked up his second foul and had to sit for the final nine minute. But the Tigers found a way to stay in the game and eventually take the lead late in the half.

            Down 24-16, Memphis closed the first half on a 17-6 run in the last 5:36 minutes without their leading scorer and rebounder.

            Craig Randall II made the first and last shots of the run, but Jeremiah Martin and K.J. led the way with five points each. Rivers joined the mix on an and-one dunk off an assist by K.J.

            The second half remained tight with the biggest lead being by seven for the Tigers. But UCF tied the game three separate times until they took a 49-46 lead on B.J. Taylor’s three.

            Then Memphis gained the lead and separation with a 10-0 stretch in just a minute and 15 seconds. Rivers scored four points in the run, but Crawford made four straight free throws when he was fouled on a layup and a technical was called on Matt Williams for shoving Crawford.

            The seven point lead did not last long. The Knights tied the game up a few minutes later on A.J. Davis’ free throws.

            K.J. put the Tigers up on the next possession with just over three minutes left, and the Tigers did not give up the lead again.

            UCF had the ball with 17 seconds left and down 68-65, but they missed a shot and were forced to foul. K.J. went to the line ended the game by hitting two free throws.

            Early in the game, Fall’s size frustrated the Tigers, but head coach Tubby Smith got his team to take advantage of the matchup.

            “We had to find a game plan to get him out of position,†Crawford said. “We tried to get him in a screen and roll because he really doesn’t leave the lane a lot.â€

            Smith was satisfied with his team and their performance.

            “I was really impressed with our kids today, especially being banged up,†Smith said. “We showed a lot of guts and toughness.â€

            The win pushes the Tigers’ record to 15-5 (5-2 AAC) and brings them to fourth in the AAC standings. This week, Memphis will face Temple, in Philadelphia, and East Carolina at home. 

Jimario Rivers finishes the and-one dunk against UCF. He leads all starters with a .627 field goal percentage.