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CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Steve Logan came to the rescue and Cincinnati remained the top dog in Conference USA. Logan sent the game to overtime by nailing a jumper as time expired and the fourth-ranked Bearcats posted an 80-75 victory over Memphis. Cincinnati (27-3, 14-2 C-USA American) finished with the top overall record in Conference USA for its seventh straight regular-season title. The Bearcats earned sole possession of the crown for the fifth time in that span. Memphis (22-8, 12-4 National) appeared to have the game won when Antonio Burks made two free throws with six seconds left in regulation for a 68-66 lead. The Bearcats were out of timeouts when Logan, the preseason C-USA Player of the Year, took the ball and never gave it up. He stopped just inside the lane and his difficult jumper over Memphis freshman Dajuan Wagner hit the front of the rim and the backboard before dropping through. In the extra session, Cincinnati took the lead for good at 77-75 on two foul shots by Immanuel McElroy with 35 seconds left. Wagner missed a runner 17 seconds later and the Bearcats made 3-of-4 free throws to seal the victory. The game featured an outstanding duel between Logan and Wagner, two of the nation's best players. Logan poured in 30 points despite missing all eight 3-point attempts and Wagner netted 27. The Bearcats missed all 16 3-point attempts, the first time they have failed to connect on at least one 3-pointer in 134 games. Four lead changes highlighted the final three minutes of regulation, including a basket by Wagner for a 66-65 edge wit 1:23 left. Wagner, who made 11-of-28 shots, nailed a long 3-pointer with 3:35 left in the game for a 73-72 advantage. McElroy scored to give the Bearcats the lead before Wagner split two defenders and nailed a jumper for the Tigers' final lead at 75-74 with 80 seconds to go. McElroy finished with 16 points and Donald Little added 15 and 12 rebounds off the bench for Cincinnati, which extended its home winning streak to 17 games. The Bearcats made 26-of-37 foul shots, as Logan and Little combined to make 17-of-23 attempts. McElroy and freshman Jason Maxiell each added eight rebounds as Cincinnati held a commanding 48-34 edge on the glass. Antonio Burks scored 14 points and Scooter McFadgon chipped in 10 for Memphis, which would have earned the No. 1 seed with the victory. Kelly Wise, the team's second leading scorer at 12.3 points per game, was limited to two points and three shots. Cincinnati has won six straight meetings with the Tigers since a 75-63 loss in the 1996-97 season. |
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