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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) _ Dominic Smith buried a long three from the
top of the key in the final minute and sank a pair of free throws
with four seconds left to lead Houston to a 76-73 win over Memphis
on Saturday.
With the defeat, the Tigers (20-7, 10-3 in Conference USA)
extended their losing streak to a season-high three games. Houston
(14-11, 7-5) has now won three of four.
Playing without senior Kelly Wise _ who has missed portions of
the last three games with a strained right knee _ Memphis actually
led for most of the second half despite trailing at the break,
33-31.
But with just under six minutes to play, the Cougars went on an
8-2 run, including six points by Patrick Okafor, to cut the Memphis
lead to 68-66 with 3:36 left.
Smith's three with 41 seconds remaining gave Houston its first
lead in almost 15 minutes, and the Tigers could never pull even
again despite three possessions in the final 40 seconds.
Memphis got one last chance with freshman Dajuan Wagner's
desperation three at the buzzer, but it banked off the top of the
backboard.
Okafor led Cougar scoring with 25 points on 7-of-9 shooting
while Louis Truscott added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Smith
finished with 16 points.
The Tigers were led by Wagner's 23 points. Earl Barron finished
with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Anthony Rice added 10 points and
Antonio Burks finished with 12.
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