Memphis cruises past South Florida 71-56, Lawson scores 18
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Dedric Lawson scored 18 points, including 8 for 9 at the foul line, and grabbed 12 rebounds as Memphis broke away from South Florida 71-56 on Saturday, sending the Bulls to an eighth-straight loss.
Shaq Goodwin added 13 points for Memphis (12-5, 3-1 American Athletic). Ricky Tarrant Jr. and Sam Craft added nine each.
USF's Angel Nunez scored to make it a three-point game, 34-31, early in the second half, but the Bulls missed their next five shots and the Tigers reeled off eight unanswered points to lead 42-31 with 12:53 to go. The Tigers added another 7-0 run, stringing together a Nick Marshall layup, a Goodwin dunk and an Avery Woodson 3 that stretched the lead to 49-33.
Nunez led South Florida (3-16, 0-6) with 16 points, Jahmal McMurray added 13 and Jaleel Cousins grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds. McMurray has scored in double digits in all but two games this season.
