Six more Ameircan Athletic Conference men's basketball teams opened up league play on Wednesday (Dec. 16). Memphis and USF won on the road at Tulane and Cincinnati, respectively, while SMU won a battle of unbeatens and defeated East Carolina at home.
USF 74, Cincinnati 71 -
Box Score
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Alexis Yetna had 16 points and 12 rebounds, leading USF to a 74-71 win against Cincinnati on Wednesday night in an American Athletic Conference opener.
Tari Eason,hit a 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to pull the Bearcats to 73-71. Michael Durr split a pair of free throws for the Bulls and Cincinnati's Jeremiah Davenport missed a 3-pointer to end it.
Durr finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Xavier Castaneda also had 14 points for USF (5-2, 1-0 American Athletic Conference), which earned its fourth consecutive victory. David Collins added 11 points.
Keith Williams had 15 points for the Bearcats (2-3, 0-1). Chris Vogt added 13 points and three assists. Eason, a 6-8 freshman from Seattle, had 13 points including a dunk early in the second half. He also had nine rebounds.
SMU 70, East Carolina 55 - Box Score
DALLAS (AP) — Feron Hunt recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds to lift SMU to a 70-55 win over East Carolina in a clash of unbeatens on Wednesday night.
It was the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
Kendric Davis had 17 points and six assists for SMU (5-0, 1-0). Darius McNeill added 13 points. Ethan Chargois had nine rebounds.
Leading 30-28 at halftime, SMU opened the second half on a 17-6 run over nearly nine minutes to take control.
Jayden Gardner had 13 points for the Pirates (5-1, 0-1). Bitumba Baruti added 11 points.
Memphis 80, Tulane 74 - Box Score
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lester Quinones had 20 points as Memphis beat Tulane 80-74 on Wednesday night.
It was the first American Athletic Conference game of the season for both teams.
D.J. Jeffries had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis (5-3). Landers Nolley II added 16 points. DeAndre Williams had 10 points.
Gabe Watson had 18 points for the Green Wave (4-1), whose four-game season-opening win streak was snapped. Jordan Walker added 16 points. Jaylen Forbes had 15 points.