Xavier 64, No. 17 Memphis 62: Travis Taylor collected 18 points and 10 rebounds and Isaiah Philmore added 15 points and six boards as the host Musketeers snapped the Tigers' 18-game overall win streak and their string of 11 straight road victories.
Semaj Christon chipped in 13 points and five assists for Xavier (16-11), which improved to 10-3 at home. The Musketeers have won four of their past six.
Geron Johnson scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Memphis (24-4), which lost for the first time since Dec. 15 against Louisville. The 18-game streak was tied with Akron for the longest active streak in the nation.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 13 before rallying in the second half. They pulled even at 45 and claimed their first lead of the game at 50-49 on Johnson's 3-pointer with 6:29 left.
There were three ties and four lead changes in the final 6:29, but Brad Redford's 3-pointer with 1:52 left put the Musketeers ahead for good. Xavier didn't make a field goal the rest of the way but went 6-for-10 from the free-throw line to seal it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Memphis' 20 points in the first half are its fewest in a half this season. … Xavier scored 18 second-chance points off 17 offensive rebounds. … The loss denied Memphis coach Josh Pastner's bid for his 100th win. Pastner is 99-33 at Memphis.
Memphis | Xavier | |
Geron Johnson 14 | Scoring | Travis Taylor 18 |
Joe Jackson 5 | Assists | Semaj Christon 5 |
Tarik Black 9 | Rebounds | Travis Taylor 10 |
Joe Jackson 2 | Free Throws Made | Semaj Christon 5 |
Geron Johnson 2 | Steals | Jeff Robinson 2 |
D.J. Stephens 5 | Blocks | Isaiah Philmore 2 |