Dain Dainja had gaming heights of 25 points and 10 returns when No. 18 Memphis withdrew in the last two minutes for an 84-72 American athletic conference victory over the visit Rice on Wednesday evening.
PJ Haggerty added 21 points and five assists for Tigers (23-5, 13-2 AAC), while Nicholas Jourdain contributed 19 points and nine returns. Memphis shot 49.2 percent from the field to secure a seasonal sweep of the owls.
Caden Powell scored 19 points to lead four players in double numbers for rice (13-16, 4-12). Denver Anglin added 14 points, Andrew Akuchie had 12 and Kellen Amos came from the bench for 11.
Although they only made 41.4 percent from the field, the owls had a legitimate chance to pull the upset after Powell’s Dunk Band point at 70 with 3:51 left. They even got a stop and had possession with an opportunity to take the lead.
But a steal by Colby Rogers led to Tyrese Hunter’s short jump at the brand 2:39. The bucket ignited a game-ending 14-2 driving.
A pregame story was whether Memphis could run its conference leads to 1 1/2 games over vacant North Texas and UAB. At the same time, Rice tried to build on a 71-50 victory over Tulsa on Saturday who snapped a four-game losing line.
It was all tigers in the first five minutes when they established Dainja for seven quick points and a 13-3 lead. The margin was 12 when Rogers made two free throw at the mark 11:28, and it seemed as if Memphis would have a simple game.
But the owls met them with a 12-2 run to pull within 23-21 on Powell’s layout with 8:04. Memphis restored a nine-point advantage on two occasions before satisfied himself with a pillow of 39-32 at the break on a free throw with Haggerty with five seconds left.
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