Tramon Mark hit a long 3-pointer as time expired to give No. 9 Houston a 67-64 win over Memphis on Sunday.
After Memphis had tied it with 1.7 seconds left, Marcus Sasser threw the ball to midcourt where Mark picked it up. He dribbled through two Memphis defenders and launched a 35-footer off the backboard and in.
Houston mobbed Mark in a hectic scene under the basket following the win.
Memphis center Malcolm Dandridge (23), Houston forward Fabian White Jr. (35), Memphis guard Lester Quinones, second from right, and Houston guard Tramon Mark (12) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoEric Christian Smith)
DeJon Jarreau had 19 points and eight rebounds, Quentin Grimes added 17 points and eight rebounds and Justin Gorham had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Cougars (21-3, 14-3 American), who won their fourth straight game. Mark finished with eight points and shot 3 for 12 from the field.
Landers Nolley II scored 14 points, Lester Quinones and DeAndre Williams each added 11 points for Memphis (15-7, 11-4). The Tigers shot 47%, including 8 of 21 on 3-pointers. Memphis had its six-game winning streak snapped.
Quinones missed a 3-pointer, but Houston couldn’t grab the rebound, and it bounced out to Boogie Ellis, who hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to tie it at 64.
Houston had a chance to put the game away, but Sasser missed a 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining, Jarreau grabbed the rebound but it was stolen by Williams.
Williams cut the lead to 64-61 on a layup with three minutes remaining but missed the free throw. After both teams traded missed baskets and turnovers over the next two minutes, Quinones missed the front end of a one-and-one with 49 seconds left and Gorham grabbed the rebound.
Trailing 58-56 with 6:44 remaining, Houston went on an 8-1 spurt over the next 3½ minutes to take a five-point lead on a jumper by Sasser.
BIG PICTURE
Memphis: The Tigers missed a chance to improve their NCAA Tournament chances with a marquee win. … Memphis shot 10 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Tigers got 16 points from their bench and had 14 assists.
Houston: The Cougars earned a solid win to help their quest for a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. ... Houston, which won its 25th straight home win, outrebounded Memphis 40-32. Houston held a 15-6 advantage in offensive rebounds.
UP NEXT
Memphis: The Tigers will be the No. 3 seed in the American Athletic Tournament and will play Friday in the quarterfinals.
Houston: The Cougars will be the No. 2 seed in the AAC Tournament and will play Friday in the quarterfinals.
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