Tigers claw Cougars 89-55

AP: Mark Weber

Last night's defensive showing was one that Memphis Tigers fans have been accustomed to. The Tigers' defense held the Houston attack to just 19-for-56 shooting (33.9 percent) and just 1-for-12 from the arc, en route to a 34-point drubbing of the Cougars on the road, 89-55.

Memphis (12-5, 3-0 in Conference USA) is now on a six game winning streak - the longest this season. Their defense has been the staple of the six game run, holding opponents under 40 percent during the streak, with the last hiccup being a lost to Georgetown in mid-December.

Sophomore guard Chris Crawford, starting in place for the injured freshman Adonis Thomas due to a sprain ankle, led four Tigers in double figures with 19 points and dishing out four assists. Sophomore guard Will Barton also had a great night. Barton tallied his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Joe Jackson also scored 16 points and handed out a game high five assists. And sophomore forward Tarik Black, not to be outdone by his peers, also got into double figures and filled the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks.

This game was never really in doubt from the start. Though the score was trimmed to 11 by halftime, 41-30, in a span of almost eight minutes the Tigers used an 18-0 run to run away from the Cougars - a lead that even grew to 40 at one point during the second half.

The Tigers shot 34-of-61 (55.7 percent) of its field goal attempts and 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point territory. Memphis dominated nearly every statistical category, grabbing more rebounds than Houston (41-31), scoring more points in the paint (48-28), creating points off turnovers (21-8) and outscoring Houston's bench (34-19).

This was the 37th meeting between the Tigers and Cougars. Memphis has a 26-12 all-time advantage in the series, and a 23-9 lead in C-USA games. The 34-point win is the largest margin of victory in a conference game since a 43 point win over SMU 90-47 on Feb. 18, 2009.

The Tigers continue their road trip Wednesday in Orlando as they try to bring their winning streak to seven against Central Florida. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT).