The Memphis Tigers had no trouble on Saturday in the 2012 Conference USA Championship Game, dismissing Marshall 83-57 and snagging the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was the Tigers sixth Conference USA Championship.
Memphis has now won seven straight games, and 20 of their last 23. It was their 15th consecutive tournament win on their own court, and the Tigers are now 31-8 all-time in tournament games played in Memphis.
Five Memphis players scored in double digits, led by Joe Jackson's 19 points and six assists. Wesley Witherspoon chipped in 11 points for Josh Pastner's club.
This was Marshall's first appearance in a conference tournament championship game since they faced Chattanooga in the 1997 Southern Conference title game. The loss likely squashes the hopes of the Thundering Herd for making the Dance, as upset wins over Tulsa and Southern Miss on their way to the matchup with Memphis will likely not be enough to sway the selection committee.
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