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Saturday, March 13
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, Texas
4:30 p.m.
University of Houston
23-3
76
vs
74
Memphis
16-8
1
2
F
Memphis
29
45
74
Houston
41
35
76
Survive and Advance
3/13/2021 7:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Box ScoreHighlightsHighlights IIGame Book (PDF)PhotosPostgame Press ConferenceSeason Statistics (PDF)Photo Gallery
Cougars advance to face Cincinnati in Sunday's championship game
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – University of Houston senior forward Justin Gorham scored 15 points, including four free throws in the final 27 seconds, and the seventh-ranked Cougars beat Memphis 76-74 on Saturday to advance to its third consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament final.
Boogie Ellis had 27 points for Memphis, but he had a huge turnover with 49 seconds left. He fell down with the ball when trying to respond to Gorham's nifty one-handed reverse layup with just over a minute left that had put the Cougars up 72-71.
Gorham added two free throws with 27 seconds left, and two more with 4 seconds left. Ellis made a running 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.
Juniro guard Quentin Grimes had 21 points with five 3-pointers for Houston (23-3), which is already a lock for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore guard Marcus Sasser had 14 points, and senior guard DeJon Jarreau finished with 11.
DeAndre Williams had 16 points for Memphis (16-8), an NCAA bubble team which overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and took the lead late. D.J. Jeffries had 10 points.
The Cougars are looking for their first conference tournament title since 2010 in Conference USA when Tom Penders was their coach. They play Sunday against fifth-seeded Cincinnati, which beat regular-season champion Wichita State 60-59 in Saturday's other AAC semifinal.
Cincinnati won the last two AAC title championship games over Houston, 69-57 in 2019 and 56-55 in 2018. Last year's tournament was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Williams had 10 points when Memphis opened the second half with a 17-5 run, getting even at 46-all on his jumper with 10:45 left that ended his personal 6-0 run.
Grimes had a fast-break dunk with 17 minutes left, but the Cougars missed seven shots in a row until Grimes made a 3-pointer with 8:55 left, right after Ellis made a 3. Ellis and Grimes traded quick 3-pointers again only a couple of minutes later.
BIG PICTURE
Memphis: The Tigers were again without guard Alex Lomax because of a left ankle injury. Memphis is in its third season under coach Penny Hardaway and hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. It was the second time in seven days that the Tigers fell just short against Houston. They got even at 1.7 seconds left in Houston last Sunday before the Cougars banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Houston: The Cougars converted eight Memphis turnovers into 14 points before halftime, the last on a buzzer-beating breakaway dunk by Grimes after he stole the ball from Ellis... Houston had an early 11-0 run bookended by a pair of 3-pointers by Sasser.
UP NEXT
The American Championship Title Game on Sunday is only the second meeting this season between the teams. Houston beat the Bearcats 90-52 inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 21.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's Title Game on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Dan Dakich (analyst).
• Fans can hear Sunday's Title Game on KPRC 950 AM or on the TuneIn app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst). The pregame show begins at 2 p.m.
JOIN the 2021-22 SEASON-TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Boogie Ellis had 27 points for Memphis, but he had a huge turnover with 49 seconds left. He fell down with the ball when trying to respond to Gorham's nifty one-handed reverse layup with just over a minute left that had put the Cougars up 72-71.
Gorham added two free throws with 27 seconds left, and two more with 4 seconds left. Ellis made a running 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.
Juniro guard Quentin Grimes had 21 points with five 3-pointers for Houston (23-3), which is already a lock for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore guard Marcus Sasser had 14 points, and senior guard DeJon Jarreau finished with 11.
DeAndre Williams had 16 points for Memphis (16-8), an NCAA bubble team which overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and took the lead late. D.J. Jeffries had 10 points.
The Cougars are looking for their first conference tournament title since 2010 in Conference USA when Tom Penders was their coach. They play Sunday against fifth-seeded Cincinnati, which beat regular-season champion Wichita State 60-59 in Saturday's other AAC semifinal.
Cincinnati won the last two AAC title championship games over Houston, 69-57 in 2019 and 56-55 in 2018. Last year's tournament was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Williams had 10 points when Memphis opened the second half with a 17-5 run, getting even at 46-all on his jumper with 10:45 left that ended his personal 6-0 run.
Grimes had a fast-break dunk with 17 minutes left, but the Cougars missed seven shots in a row until Grimes made a 3-pointer with 8:55 left, right after Ellis made a 3. Ellis and Grimes traded quick 3-pointers again only a couple of minutes later.
BIG PICTURE
Memphis: The Tigers were again without guard Alex Lomax because of a left ankle injury. Memphis is in its third season under coach Penny Hardaway and hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. It was the second time in seven days that the Tigers fell just short against Houston. They got even at 1.7 seconds left in Houston last Sunday before the Cougars banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Houston: The Cougars converted eight Memphis turnovers into 14 points before halftime, the last on a buzzer-beating breakaway dunk by Grimes after he stole the ball from Ellis... Houston had an early 11-0 run bookended by a pair of 3-pointers by Sasser.
UP NEXT
The American Championship Title Game on Sunday is only the second meeting this season between the teams. Houston beat the Bearcats 90-52 inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 21.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's Title Game on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Dan Dakich (analyst).
• Fans can hear Sunday's Title Game on KPRC 950 AM or on the TuneIn app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst). The pregame show begins at 2 p.m.
JOIN the 2021-22 SEASON-TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
MEM
HOU
FG%
.491
.455
3FG%
.389
.318
FT%
.556
.864
RB
29
35
TO
14
15
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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