(AP) Nonconference didn’t mean unimportant to Memphis coach John Calipari. For the Tigers, winning at Gonzaga was huge.
Chris Douglas-Roberts provided the game-winning play, slashing across the key to hit a one-handed layup with 5.6 seconds remaining in overtime as No. 8 Memphis edged Gonzaga 78-77 on Saturday for its 15th straight victory.
“We needed that win. We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations,” Calipari said.
Calipari’s one regret was that the Tigers eased up a bit defensively in the second half, allowing Gonzaga to climb back into the game in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, about a half mile from the Kennel on the Zag’s campus.
“Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was holding onto the seat saying ‘let’s get out of here if we can,”’ Calipari said. “I thought our best opportunity was to play them without fouling; don’t take as many chances, guard them in the half-court.”
The Tigers (23-3) led 76-75 on Jeremy Hunt ‘s 3, but Hunt fouled Abdullahi Kuso with 17.6 seconds left and Kuso sank both to put Gonzaga up 77-76.
Gonzaga’s Jeremy Pargo hit a jumper with a minute remaining in regulation to tie it at 69-69 after the Bulldogs trailed most of the way. Pargo’s desperation shot missed from 25 feet as the overtime clock expired.
Joey Dorsey led the Tigers with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Robert Dozier had 14 and Hunt and Antonio Anderson each had 12 for Memphis.
