Sports

College basketball

Texas upset halts Tigers streak

Associated Press
Published January 3, 2006

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Texas turned out to be too physical for Memphis.

P.J. Tucker had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Daniel Gibson added 18 points as No.15 Texas beat fourth-ranked Memphis 69-58 on Monday, snapping the Tigers' eight-game winning streak.

Texas (11-2), ranked No.2 for the first five polls of the season before consecutive losses, held Memphis almost 30 points below its average and sealed the win by going 17-of-19 from the free throw line over the final 8:34.

It was the Longhorns' third straight victory after being blown out first by No.1 Duke, then unranked Tennessee in Austin last month. Texas coach Rick Barnes couldn't have been happier.

"The environment was great and to come in here and find a way to get it done is huge. I feel good for our guys. Memphis is a very hard team to defend because of the way they play," he said.

The victory was a good send-off for a team heading into Big 12 play Saturday against Colorado.

"This is a pretty big win for us," Tucker said. "We've had two bad losses. This is a good way to jump back for us."

Memphis (11-2) had not lost at home this season and wanted to burnish its record before heading into Conference USA where the Tigers are the league's only ranked team. But they couldn't handle Texas' 2-3 zone, choosing to settle for 3-pointers and then going 6-of-32.

Coach John Calipari credited Texas with helping his Tigers play poorly and for them not taking the ball inside enough.

"Believe me, in every timeout, we were talking about it. Every time we called a timeout, we were trying to go in. But the game got physical and the inclination you know instead of going in and getting bumped, "I'm just going to take this one,"' he said.

LaMarcus Aldridge, the Longhorns' leading scorer, had a season-low 12 points before fouling out. Brad Buckman, who injured his right knee against Duke and missed the Tennessee loss, went 1-of-11 from the field and had six points. His 82-year-old grandmother, Virginia Buckman, died Sunday morning.

Memphis came in with the nation's fifth-best scoring offense (87.3 points), but the Tigers missed 13 of their first 14 shots and finished at a season-low 28.6 percent (20-of-70).

ACC

NO.1 DUKE 84, BUCKNELL 50: Shelden Williams converted two free throws, powered in for a dunk and had a layup to make it 48-28. Moments later, Sean Dockery completed a three-point play to give the host Blue Devils 13 straight points, and Bucknell finally was done.

VIRGINIA TECH 77, JAMES MADISON 58: The visiting Hokies led 38-22 by halftime after shooting nearly 54 percent from the field, then shot 59 percent to lead by at least 14 in the second half.

MIAMI 63, SACRED HEART 57: Guillermo Diaz rebounded from a scoreless game in the Hurricanes' 58-43 loss to Louisville on Saturday with a team-high 16 and the closest the visiting Pioneers would get in the second half was 60-55 with 30 seconds left.

W. KENTUCKY 78, VIRGINIA 68: Anthony Winchester scored nine of his team's final 11 points over the last 2:14 for the host Hilltoppers, which didn't trail after the the first few minutes of the game.

SEC

ALABAMA 59, BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN 55: Jean Felix made a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to put the host Crimson Tide up 57-55, and Jermareo Davidson sealed the win with two free throws.

GEORGIA 78, HOWARD 72: Three times visiting Howard closed within three points, the last time at 62-59 after James McBryde's short jumper with 6:50 to play.

State

STETSON 52, NORTH FLORIDA 40: Anthony Register scored 15 as the visiting Hatters snapped the nation's longest Division I losing streak. Stetson had lost its last 15 games.

MERCER 90, JACKSONVILLE 81: The host Bears extended a 53-39 halftime lead to 21 points with 9:57 remaining.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 73, KENNESAW ST. 67: DeAndre Rice hit a pair of free throws to put the visiting Owls up for good with nine minutes left.

USF INJURY: Junior walk-on Chris Capko, USF's starting point guard, suffered a concussion and broken nose when he took an elbow to the face in Friday's loss to UAB, and is listed as doubtful for Thursday's Big East opener.

Capko did not practice Monday, and coach Robert McCullum said Capko will wear a protective facemask. If Capko can't play Thursday, senior James Holmes will shift from shooting guard.

--Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 02:00:11]