Memphis runs winning streak to 23

MEMPHIS, March 13 (UPI) -- Shawn Taggart scored 19 points Thursday and Memphis opened its bid for a fourth straight Conference USA Tournament crown by downing Tulane 51-41.

The Tigers, ranked third nationally, won their 23rd straight game to set up a semifinal meeting with Houston. The Cougars advanced with an 89-85 overtime win over Texas-El Paso.

Earlier in the day, Tulsa and Alabama-Birmingham produced quarterfinal victories.

Tyreke Evans added 16 points for Memphis (29-3), which is in contention for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have won 59 consecutive games against Conference USA opponents.

Tulane took a 32-28 lead early in the second half, but Memphis scored 18 straight points in the next 12 minutes. Evans produced 14 points in the run and Taggart had the other four.

Tulsa opened the quarterfinals Thursday with a 73-51 victory over Rice in which the Golden Hurricane jumped to a 25-3 lead.

Alabama-Birmingham advanced thanks to a buzzer-beating shot from Paul Delaney III in overtime that gave the Blazers a 74-73 win over Southern Mississippi. Alabama-Birmingham trailed by 11 early in the second half.

Houston let a 15-point, first-half lead get away in the final quarterfinal contest, but pulled it out when Kelvin Lewis made two free throws with 7 seconds left in the overtime period.