University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
USF
Memphis Edged Out By South Florida, 75-74
Jan 18, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan 18, 2003
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Jimmy Baxter scored 21 points and had four assists Saturday night as South Florida defeated Memphis 75-74.
It's the first win for the Bulls in the last eight meetings between the teams.
Memphis had a chance to win at the end, but Billy Richmond missed a 10-footer and Chris Massie's tip was off as time ran out.
The Bulls (9-6, 2-2 Conference USA) had not won in the series since the Conference USA tournament in March 1999, and had never beaten the Tigers in eight previous trips to Memphis.
Baxter connected on 8-of-15 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, to lead four Bulls in double figures.
Reggie Kohn and Will McDonald scored 16 each for South Florida, while Yasuf Baker, who averages 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds a game, finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Massie led Memphis (10-4, 1-2) with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jeremy Hunt had 18 and six assists. Richmond finished with 12.
The Bulls opened the second half with four straight points from Baker and then three 3-point baskets, including a pair by Kohn, to start an 11-2 run that built their lead to six, 45-39, before the half's first timeout.
South Florida would eventually extend the run to 15-2, taking a 10-point lead, with Baxter scoring eight in the stretch.
Memphis was able to cut the lead to one, 65-64, when Massie scored inside and converted the foul shot for a three-point play with 5:14 left.
Memphis got within one twice in the final minute, but the Bulls never relinquished the lead after their opening burst of the second half.
The Tigers used a 15-4 run late in the first half to build a 33-30 lead at the break, sparked by Massie's eight first half points.
But the Bulls' zone collapsed on Massie through most of the half, limiting the Tigers' leading scorer to only seven shots.
South Florida fell behind in the first after missing 12 of its last 15 shots.
