Doneal Mack scored 15 points and his four-point play in the second half put Memphis ahead to stay as the Tigers defeated Central Florida 76-70 on Wednesday night.
The Knights held a 62-59 lead with 6:36 left when Mack hit a 3-pointer and was fouled by A.J. Rompza. Mack converted the free throw for a 63-62 lead.
Memphis (17-7, 7-2 Conference USA) never trailed again.
Roburt Sallie matched Mack's 15 points, while Wesley Witherspoon scored 12. Willie Kemp and Elliot Williams finished with 10 points apiece, with Williams adding seven assists.
A.J. Tyler had 18 points to lead the Knights (11-12, 3-6). Keith Clanton had 12 points, while Rompza and Marcus Jordan scored 10 each.
The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes after a car hit a water main in the FedExForum parking garage. The accident set off emergency alarms leading to a brief evacuation of the building.
