C-USA: Memphis forces title showdown with Louisville

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Darius Washington scored 20 points and Anthony Rice, shooting from long-range early, added 19 Friday night as Memphis continued its run through the Conference USA Tournament with an 81-68 victory over South Florida.

Washington carried the Tigers down the stretch, hitting 6 of 11 from the field and all seven of his free throws. Rice connected on 6-of-9 from the field, including 4 of his 6 from outside the arc, for Memphis (19-14).

The seventh-seeded Tigers moved into Saturday's championship against No. 6 Louisville, the tournament's the top seed.

For USF (14-16), the first No. 11 seed to reach the C-USA semifinals, the loss ends an improbable road to the NCAA. Neither team would have reached the tournament without capturing the league's automatic berth, particularly for the Bulls with a losing record.

For Memphis, the hope remains alive as the Tigers reached the C-USA finals for the first time in the tournament's 10-year history. Full story

No. 6 Louisville 74, UAB 67

Francisco Garcia broke a tie with a 3-pointer with 3:36 left, and the sixth-ranked Cardinals held off Alabama-Birmingham for their eighth consecutive victory.

Louisville (28-4), headed to the Big East next season, is trying to become the only C-USA team other than Cincinnati to win the tournament and regular-season titles in the same year.

UAB (21-10) looked ready to upset its first ranked opponent since knocking off top-ranked Kentucky last year in the NCAA Tournament. But the Blazers couldn't hold onto a 49-40 lead, and they forced the seventh and last tie at 61 on a pair of free throws by Donnell Taylor with 3:54 to go.