The American split its two men’s basketball Saturday contests, as Memphis defended its home court and UConn fell on the road. The Tigers rallied for an 83-71 win over Loyola (Md.) to stay unbeaten at FedExForum with a 9-0 home record this year, while the Huskies suffered their second road loss of the week to an Auburn team receiving votes in the Associated Press poll.
Memphis 83, Loyola (Md.) 71
MEMPHIS, Tenn.(AP) -- Jeremiah Martin tied his career high with 26 points, Raynere Thornton had a double-double and Memphis pulled away down the stretch to give coach Tubby Smith an 83-71 win over his son G.G., the Loyola-Maryland coach, on Saturday.
After the Greyhounds (2-9) took a 65-64 lead on a basket by Chuck Champion with 4:53 to go, the Tigers (9-3) took over scoring the next seven and turning that into a 15-2 run to lead by 12 with 1:08 remaining.
Malik Rhodes started the run with a 3-point play and Thornton and David Nickelberry contributed four points each. Martin added four free throws from there.
Thornton had career-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double with the Tigers. Kyvon Davenport and Nickelberry, with a career high, scored 14 points.
Loyola, which had a 12-point lead in the first half that ended tied at 35, was led by Champion with 16 points and Cam Gregory's 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Before the game, Tubby Smith said, "It's always emotional. It will be emotional for (wife) Donna and myself but it will be good to have him here. I just wish he would have brought the grandkids like he was supposed to."
No. rv/-- Auburn 89, UConn 64
AUBURN, Ala.(AP) -- Desean Murray and Mustapha Heron each scored 13 points and a balanced effort led Auburn to an 89-64 win over UConn on Saturday.
It was the Tigers' third-largest margin of victory this season and the Huskies' second-largest margin of defeat.
Auburn (11-1) never trailed in the game and led for the final 34-plus minutes for its ninth consecutive victory.
Jalen Adams, UConn's leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, scored a 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting for the Huskies (7-5). UConn shot just 34.3 percent from the field.
Auburn built its lead on the strength of a 16-0 run early in the first half, which turned a 7-7 deadlock into a 23-7 lead in a span of fewer than three minutes. The Tigers led by at least 14 points the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
The Tigers won their ninth straight game, which continues the program's best start to a season since 1999 and longest winning streak since 2002-03.
The Huskies remain two games over .500 despite Saturday's result, but they are now 1-5 against high-major opponents with losses to Michigan State, Arkansas, Syracuse, Arizona and Auburn.
UP NEXT
Auburn hosts Cornell next Saturday in its final nonconference game before opening SEC play on Jan. 2 at Tennessee. UConn continues a difficult three-game stretch, following road games at Arizona and Auburn with a home game against No. 11 Wichita State next Saturday.