MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Will Barton scored 24 points, Tarik Black added 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Memphis used a second-half rally to defeat Southern Methodist 63-45 Saturday.
The Tigers (13-6, 4-1 Conference USA) trailed 36-35 with 13 minutes to play, but outscored the Mustangs 19-2 over the next 11 minutes to pull away for the win.
During a stretch of the second half, SMU (10-9, 2-3) connected on only 2 of 18 shots to help Memphis build a double-digit lead. Robert Nyakundi, Jeremia Samarrippas and Jalen Jones all finished with 10 points each for the Mustangs, who lost their third game in their last four matchups. Samarrippas handed out six assists and had four steals.
Memphis controlled the boards 36-27, including 13 on offensive, leading to 14 second-chance points. The Tigers had 9-point lead, 30-21, in the first half, but SMU closed out the period with seven straight points to lead 30-28 at the break.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
