SMU Drops Finale In Memphis

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — No. 20 Memphis defeated No. 18 SMU 67-58 Saturday at FedExForum in the American Athletic Conference finale for both teams.

Memphis (23-8, 12-6 AAC) used a 20-5 run to go from trailing by a point to taking a 58-44 lead with nine minutes to play. Tigers senior guard Chris Crawford (nine points) made three consecutive 3-pointers during the run.

SMU (23-8, 12-6) cut the lead to six, at 64-58, with 1:43 remaining on a short jumper in the lane from forward Markus Kennedy (13 points). But Memphis senior guard Joe Jackson (game-high 18 points) answered with a driving layup in traffic and a made free throw at 1:30 for a three-point play and a 67-58 lead, ending SMU’s last threat.

The Tigers outshot SMU 46.4 percent to 40 percent and outrebounded the Mustangs 41-35.

The final seeding for the AAC Tournament, which begins Wednesday at FedExForum, will not be known until the completion of other conference games but it is possible Memphis and SMU could meet in No. 5 vs. No. 5 game in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

Memphis freshman forward Austin Nichols finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Guard Michael Dixon had nine points off the bench and forward Nick King contributed seven points and seven rebounds.

Guard Nic Moore paced the Mustangs with 16 points, seven assists and two steals. Guard Nick Russell finished with 13 points.

SMU led 30-26 at halftime and held the Tigers to 34.5 percent shooting. Memphis missed all six 3-pointers it attempted and also struggled at the free-throw line, going six for 13 (46.2 percent).

The Mustangs only shot 36.7 percent in the first half but knocked down four of nine 3-pointers (44.4 percent). Moore led all scorers with 10 first-half points and also had four assists.

The play was often sloppy in the first 20 minutes as the teams combined for 18 turnovers (10 by Memphis, eight by SMU).