Will Barton had 17 points and eight rebounds as Memphis defeated Alabama-Birmingham 76-73 in overtime on Saturday night.
Antonio Barton added 16 points for the Tigers (15-4, 4-1 Conference USA), who defeated the Blazers for the 10th straight time. Current UAB coach Mike Davis dropped to 0-9 against Memphis.
Cameron Moore led UAB with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Jamarr Sanders added 15 points for the Blazers, but missed all 10 of his 3-pointers. UAB finished 2 of 23 from 3-point range.
Memphis missed 5 of 6 free throws in the final 25 seconds of overtime, keeping UAB alive. The Blazers missed two 3-pointers in the final 6 seconds that could have tied the game.
The Tigers held UAB (13-5, 3-2) without a point in overtime until 37 seconds remained.
Memphis made only 14 of 27 free throws, but the Tigers shot 52.8 percent from the field (28 of 53).
The Tigers led 76-70 with 25.2 seconds left but nearly crumbled. A 3-pointer by Moore cut UAB's deficit to three with 18.8 seconds left, and Memphis missed four straight free throws.
But UAB's last two 3-pointers went awry. Robert Williams shot an air ball on a 3-point try with 6 seconds left, and Sanders' final heave drew the front rim at the buzzer.
Memphis controlled much of overtime after a frantic finish to regulation. Will Barton was called for traveling with 2.2 seconds left, moments before he banked in a long 3-pointer that was waved off. UAB's desperation 3-pointer missed, forcing overtime.
There were four lead changes in the final 2 minutes of regulation. Down by one, UAB's Aaron Johnson drew a charge on Joe Jackson with 22.4 seconds left. Johnson made 1 of 2 free throws with 8.7 seconds left to tie the game.
Will Barton drilled a 3-pointer with 55.7 seconds left to put Memphis ahead 68-66. UAB's Anthony Criswell made 1 of 2 free throws to cut the deficit to one, leading to the finish.
