TicketsDec. 19, 2007
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
CINCINNATI (AP) - The Bearcats frustrated the unbeaten Memphis Tigers (9-0), the No. 2 team in the nation, most of the night, but came up short of an upset bid, dropping a 79-69 decision at Fifth Third Arena.
Three Bearcats scored in double-digits led by sophomore guard Deonta Vaughn, who led the team with 20 points. Seniors John Williamson and Adam Hrycaniuk each added 13.
Cincinnati (4-6) kept it close by taking advantage of two second-half technical fouls and the Tigers' inability to sustain anything for more than a few minutes due to the Bearcats pressure defense.
UC was coming off its most inspired performance of the season, a 64-59 loss to crosstown rival Xavier a week ago. The Bearcats didn't back down in that rough-and-tumble game, and came away convinced that they had grown up as a team.
Against another rival, they initially went back into their shell.
Memphis got a lot of open shots on the perimeter early and took advantage, making seven of its first 12. The Tigers pulled ahead 26-14 and seemed to be ready to take control. Instead, they lost most of their lead and had to sweat it out.
"It was a different type of defense," said Memphis' Antonio Anderson. "We weren't nervous or anything. It was hard to make some shots when they went man to man."
The Tigers failed to score on their last five possessions of the first half, when they had two turnovers and missed three shots. Cincinnati's confidence grew during an 11-1 run that culminated with Jamual Warren's jumper at the buzzer that trimmed the lead to 33-32.
It was a significant development for the Bearcats, who shot 36 percent from the field in their last three games, all losses. They went 13-of-27 in the first half against a team that normally prides itself on pressure defense.
In the second half the pressure turned to Memphis.
Freshman Derrick Rose, who finished the game with a game-high 26 points, got the Tigers back on solid footing, hitting a 3-pointer and making two free throws to open the second half. Cincinnati also slipped back into its shooting doldrums, missing its first eight attempts.
"He can hurt you in so many ways," Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said of Rose. "Tonight he hurt us in just about every way. He was the difference in the game."
Still, Memphis had trouble putting them away.
John Williamson's three-point play gave Cincinnati its first basket of the half and cut the lead to 44-40, getting the crowd back into the game. Rose asserted himself again, making another 3-pointer, and Willie Kemp's three-point play off a fastbreak rebuilt the lead to 50-40.
Andre Allen made a three-point play and two 3s that helped Memphis build its biggest lead, 65-50, with 6:49 left. Two technical fouls - one on forward Joey Dorsey, another on Calipari - blunted the momentum. Memphis also missed four consecutive free throws, giving Cincinnati a final chance to rally.
"Cincinnati beat us to, I'm going to guess, about seven balls that made the game playable for them," Calipari said. "That's why I went crazy. On the technical, I was getting on my players. I wasn't getting on the officials."
Vaughn's 3-pointer cut it to 68-62 with 3:50 left, but Williamson missed a dunk that could have made it close. Finally, Rose hit a 3-pointer from the right wing that made it 73-64 with 1:52 to go.
The loss drops the Bearcats 4-6 as they will begin preparations for Sunday's nationally televised tilt at North Carolina State. The game can be seen on Fox Sports Net at 7:30 p.m.