MEMPHIS – In the first conference game of the season that went down to the wire, the Cincinnati Bearcats cracked in the closing seconds.
After Cincinnati split its first two American Athletic Conference games – both were contests that trended toward lopsided at times – UC couldn't maintain a narrow lead with a minute to play against the Memphis Tigers and ultimately lost, 87-80, Sunday at FedExForum.
The matinee evolved into an emotional, back-and-forth game in which the Bearcats held late, narrow leads on multiple occasions. That included an 80-79 lead with one minute to go. But Memphis senior guard Tyler Harris responded with a jumper for 81-80 with 40 seconds to play.
That proved to be the game-winning score. Memphis went on to ice the contest from the free-throw line.
After the game was tied at 57 with 11 minutes to go, Memphis outscored Cincinnati 30-23 down the stretch.
The clutch-shooting Lester Quinones of Memphis went for 18 points and Harris scored a team-high 19 in the Memphis (9-5, 3-1 AAC) victory.
Four Tigers hit double-figure scoring, including highly touted freshman and reigning AAC Freshman of the Week, Josh Minott (14 points, 7-of-12 shooting). Emoni Bates chipped in 12 points.
