No. 19 Memphis wins CUSA title for 8th time, 76-67 over Central Florida
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Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford both scored 19 points and No. 19 Memphis claimed its eighth Conference USA championship with a 76-67 victory over Central Florida on Saturday.
Adonis Thomas added 12 points for the Tigers (25-4, 14-0 CUSA), who gave coach Josh Pastner his 100th career win, all at Memphis.
Keith Clanton had 29 points and six rebounds for UCF (19-10, 8-6). Kasey Wilson added 11 points and Isaiah Sykes had 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
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Memphis got the first two baskets of the second half to stretch the lead to 38-29 before Clanton ran off nine straight points. The last two came on a two-fisted slam that tied the game at 38 with 15:47 to go.
Crawford stopped the run with a 15-footer and Jackson scored six points as Memphis regained control with a 16-5 run that made it 54-43 with 11:23. Memphis' lead never went under six points after that.