In American Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday (Jan. 25), ECU, SMU and Wichita State all picked up wins.

SMU 74, No. 20 Memphis 70 - Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- SMU rallied and rallied but kept falling short - until its defense kicked things up another level.

The Mustangs held No. 20 Memphis scoreless over the final six minutes and completed a 74-70 comeback victory Saturday. Kendric Davis led SMU with 20 points and five assists - his 14th straight game with at least five assists - but it was the shooting and defense late that made the difference.

''It was an uphill (battle) the whole game until we took the lead,'' SMU coach Tim Jankovich said. ''We were just uphill, uphill.''

The Mustangs (15-4, 5-2 American Athletic Conference) fought their way back from several 11-point deficits only to let the Tigers extend the lead again. The advantage reached 12 points - biggest of the game - with about seven minutes left.

SMU outscored the Tigers 18-2 the rest of the way. Memphis' only basket came on a dunk from DJ Jeffries with 6:01 remaining. Meanwhile, Isiaha Mike scored eight of his 13 points, including a 3 with 1:51 left that put the Mustangs ahead for good.

''For our guys to dig down again and make another comeback from double digits-down basically, I thought was fantastic,'' Jankovich said.

The Tigers were coming off an ''embarrassing'' 80-40 loss at Tulsa on Wednesday.

''You don't make excuses. You've got to finish those games,'' Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. ''These last two games have been the worst. ... It's about being there during the good and the bad. And right now, it's bad.''

Jeffries led Memphis (14-5, 3-3) with 18 points, and Precious Achiuwa had 15 points and nine rebounds. Boogie Ellis, who had been in a shooting slump and not scored a field goal in conference play, finished with 14 points, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

The loss was the Tigers' second in a row and fourth in the last six.

Memphis appeared in control, weathering the Mustangs' attempts to get back in the game only to fall short. Then the offense fell apart. They missed their final eight shots, and the turnovers - a long-running Memphis problem - accelerated with six in the final seven minutes.

''They went on their little run, and we never stopped their run,'' Jeffries said. ''They kept scoring and we started turning the ball over. At the end, time ran out on us.''

ECU 81, Tulane 62 - Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Jayden Gardner had 27 points and 13 rebounds as East Carolina defeated Tulane 81-62 on Saturday night. J.J. Miles added 21 points for the Pirates. Miles also had seven rebounds.

Tristen Newton had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists for East Carolina (9-11, 3-4 American Athletic Conference).

East Carolina posted a season-high 22 assists.

East Carolina dominated the first half and led 40-19 at the break. The Pirates' 40 points in the first half were a season best for the team.

Nic Thomas had 19 points for the Green Wave (10-9, 2-5). Christion Thompson added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Teshaun Hightower had 12 points.

(rv/22) Wichita State 87, UCF 79 - Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Dexter Dennis scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead five Wichita State players in double figures and the Shockers defeated Central Florida 87-79 on Saturday night.

Grant Sherfield and Jaime Echenique added 14 points apiece for the Shockers (17-3, 5-2 American Athletic Conference), Erik Stevenson chipped in 11 and Trey Wade 10. Sherfield also had six assists.

Darin Green Jr. scored 18 points for the Knights (11-8, 2-5) and Tony Johnson Jr. and Ceasar DeJesus added 16 points apiece.

Dennis had a dunk with 1 1/2 minutes to play to put the Shockers up 10 but the Panthers scored four quick points from the foul line. However, in the last 47 seconds Wichita State was 10 of 12 from the foul line to wrap it up.

Penn 66, Temple 59 - Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- AJ Brodeur had 19 points as Penn topped Temple 66-59 on Saturday.

Jordan Dingle had 15 points for Penn (8-7). Devon Goodman added 12 points. Ryan Betley had 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

Both teams set season lows for points in the first half as the Quakers took a 25-16 lead into the second.

Quinton Rose had 21 points for the Owls (10-9). Jake Forrester added 11 points.