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Memphis knocks off Southern Miss 76-69

Feb 28, 2010 - 3:34 AM MEMPHIS, Tenn.(AP) -- Elliot Williams scored 26 points, Roburt Salle added 20 and Memphis survived a poor start for a 76-69 victory over Southern Mississippi on Saturday night.

Wesley Witherspoon added 16 points for Memphis (21-8, 11-3 Conference USA), which won its fifth in the past six games, and held onto a tie for second with Alabama-Birmingham in C-USA.

R.L. Horton led the Golden Eagles (16-12, 6-8) with 24 points, and tried to rally Southern Mississippi with a trio of 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes. But Memphis had built a 12-point lead and Horton's shooting wasn't enough.

Josimar Ayarza scored 14 for Southern Mississippi, while Gary Flowers scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds before fouling out with 1:34 left.

The Tigers erased an 11-point first half deficit and the two teams stayed even until an 8-0 Memphis run midway through the second half broke open a 45-45 tie.