Witherspoon scores 22 points, Memphis nears NCAA mark with 77-57 victory over East Carolina

Memphis knocks off East Carolina 77-57

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Wesley Witherspoon scored 22 points and Doneal Mack added 15 as Memphis extended its Conference USA winning streak to 63 games with a 77-57 victory over East Carolina on Wednesday night.

The victory pulled the Tigers (12-4, 2-0 C-USA) within one game of Kentucky’s 64 straight conference wins in the late 1940s — the longest such streak in NCAA history.

However, the NCAA has ruled that the Tigers will forfeit their 38 wins — 19 of them in Conference USA play — in the 2007-08 season because of questions about guard Derrick Rose’s eligibility.

Memphis has appealed the ruling.

Willie Kemp added 13 for Memphis, which has not lost in the conference since March 2, 2006 at Alabama-Birmingham.

Witherspoon was 6 of 8 from the field and 9 of 10 from the line.

Brock Young led the Pirates (6-11, 0-3) with 21 points, Jontae Sherrod added 11 and Jamar Abrams had 10.