C-USA Basketball - NCAA Second Round Recap - Memphis 72 - Bucknell 56

Top-seeded Memphis took full advantage of the absence of Charles Lee, who picked up a pair of fouls in the opening minutes of the first half, outscoring Bucknell 15-2 for a cushion it rode to a 72-56 victory Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Antonio Anderson scored 13 points and Joey Dorsey added 12, helping Memphis win for the 21st time in 22 games. This one set the school record for victories in a season, topping the mark set by its 1985 Final Four team, and it sends the Tigers into the regional semifinals for the first time since 1995.

Bucknell struggled without its small forward. The Bison got off only two shots while he was on the bench, a missed 3 by his replacement and an uncontested dunk off a press-breaking, full-court pass. Seven other possessions all ended in turnovers.

Perhaps the most ominous part for Bucknell was that Rodney Carney, Memphis' season scoring leader, had been shut out until the last basket before Lee returned.

The Tigers' lead peaked at 16 and was down to 10 at halftime. The lead yo-yoed from there -- down to eight, up to 19, down to nine, back to 15 following 3-pointers by Anderson and Carney with the shot clock running out. It was 18 when Memphis coach John Calipari emptied his bench with 1:19 left.

Carney finished with 10 points. Four other players had at least eight points. Memphis will play Bradley at 7:27 EST on Thursday in Oakland.

Chris McNaughton led Bucknell with 15 points and eight rebounds. The Bison were 2-of-12 on 3-pointers after making 11-of-21 against the Razorbacks Friday.

Lee, who didn't pick up his third foul until there was 2:04 left in the game, finished with 11 points and fellow senior starter Kevin Bettencourt had 12.

Updated Conference USA basketball standings

by John Griffin, CUSA-fans.com Basketball Staff Writer