COL BKB: Memphis 71, Ala.-Birmingham 60

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Doneal Mack and Antonio Anderson keyed a late 15-2 run Thursday that vaulted No. 4 Memphis to a 71-60 victory over Alabama-Birmingham.

The Tigers clinched their fourth straight Conference USA regular-season championship.

Mack scored 17 points and Anderson had 16 to carry Memphis to its 19th consecutive victory -- the longest current winning streak in the nation. The Tigers have won 55 straight games against conference opponents.

Alabama-Birmingham battled Memphis on even terms through most of the game and trailed by just one point when Aaron Johnson made a layup with 4:36 to play.

The Blazers, however, could score just two points during the next four minutes. Mack hit a 3-point shot with 2:37 to go that gave the Tigers a 63-55 lead and Anderson made another long-range effort with 1:47 remaining for a 66-57 advantage.

Memphis, a candidate for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, improved to 25-3 for the season and to 13-0 in conference play.

Alabama-Birmingham (19-9, 9-4) was led by Lawrence Kinnard with 25 points. The Blazers had won six in a row and nine out of 10.

Robert Vaden, who came into the game averaging 18.2 points for the Blazers, went 0-for-17 from the field and did not score a point. He missed 12 3-point attempts.