Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Joe Jackson scored a team-high 14 points and
dished out eight assists to lead the Memphis Tigers to a 72-68 decision
over the Xavier Musketeers in non-conference action at the FedExForum.
Will Barton and Tarik Black each contributed 13 points as Memphis (16-7) won
for the fourth time in five games. Wesley Witherspoon was a spark off the
bench with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Black pulled down nine
rebounds in the winning effort.
Dezmine Wells paced Xavier (15-8) with a career-high 19 points. Mark Lyons
contributed 14 points while Tu Holloway scored 12 points and handed out seven
assists. Kenny Frease recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Musketeers took a 35-34 advantage into halftime after both sides went 13-
of-27 from the field in the opening period. Xavier's slight lead came after it
connected on 3-of-7 from three-point range, while Memphis shot 1-of-7 from
beyond the arc in the first half.
Xavier managed to build upon its halftime lead in the second period, and led
62-51 with 6:16 left to play. The Tigers rallied with a 14-1 run to take a
65-63 lead with 1:27 left to play. Memphis led 70-65 with seven seconds left
on the clock before Holloway knocked down a three-pointer to make it a two-
point game. Jackson came up big and made his 11th and 12th consecutive free
throws of the contest to seal the deal. The Tigers' reserves scored 22 points
in the second half to power the comeback effort. Xavier went 1-of-6 from the
field and committed three turnovers in the final six minutes of play.
Memphis outscored the visitors 36-22 in the paint and scored 13 points off of
turnovers.
GAME NOTES:
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