Memphis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 7, 2019 ) Cincinnati 69, Memphis 64

No. 22 Cincinnati survived a brutal shooting performance its last time out to stay within striking distance in the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats will try to keep the heat on first-place Houston when they host hard-charging Memphis in a key league matchup Saturday night.

Cincinnati shot 26.6 percent from the floor - the program's worst mark in over seven years - but had just enough to survive 52-49 at SMU on Wednesday, staying within one game of the top spot in the conference. "We've had some great nights this year where we've looked awesome. It's easy on those nights," coach Mick Cronin told reporters. "If you're going to have a great program, you've got to win on nights like tonight." Cincinnati won at Memphis 69-64 earlier this season but the Tigers have since claimed five of six to at least enter the conversation for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, and are aiming for one of four first-round byes handed out for the league's upcoming tournament. "I think that they're enjoying the winning," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway told the media after Tuesday's 81-73 victory over Temple. "They're enjoying the process leading up to the game - really engaged in the shootaround. That's something that we've wanted, and they are peaking at the right time."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT MEMPHIS (18-11, 10-6 American): Senior guard Jeremiah Martin's run of dominance continued against Temple with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and the league's top scorer (19.4) is averaging 36.7 points over his last three games while sensing the team's need for excellence. "Everything is business," Martin told reporters. "Every game from now - coach has been saying it - it's a playoff game. The leash is getting short, he ain't got much room for error for no one. And, I love it." Martin finished with 26 points and five assists in the earlier loss to the Bearcats.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (24-4, 13-2): Junior guard Jarron Cumberland, Martin's top competition for the league player of the year honors, was the only Bearcat to score in double figures Wednesday with 12 points and he leads the team at 18.3 per game. Juniors Tre Scott and Nysier Brooks combined for 22 rebounds in the win and both average more than six boards per game for Cincinnati, which ranks third in the American in rebound margin (plus-6.0). Sophomore guard Keith Williams, the only player other than Cumberland averaging at least 10 points, was held to eight at SMU and is 2-for-16 from 3-point range over his last five games.

TIP-INS

1. The Bearcats host the first-place Cougars in the regular-season finale March 10.

2. Tigers senior F Kyvon Davenport had 12 points and 10 rebounds against Cincinnati on Feb. 7, one of his nine double-doubles this season.

3. The Bearcats have won five straight meetings, four of them by double digits.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 74, Memphis 72