Memphis used a 15-3 second-half run to ease past South Carolina 70-54 in a foul-plagued affair on Friday.

South Carolina was within 39-38 on a jumper by Justin McKie with 12 minutes to play, but two free throws by Jimario Rivers keyed a blitz by the Tigers that left the team up 53-41 with 6:43 left. The Gamecocks never got it closer than nine the rest of the way.

Guard Markell Crawford scored 28 points to lead Memphis (10-4), which made 29 free throws as compared to 20 field goals. Guard Dedric Lawson narrowly missed a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.

The Gamecocks (10-3) were plagued by foul trouble all night, committing 30 fouls while turning the ball over 18 times. Guard P.J. Dozier, forward Chris Silva and guard Hassani Gravett each fouled out.

Dozier led the Gamecocks with 13 points. Justin McKie and Rakym Felder each added 10. Guard Duane Notice struggled, going 0 for 8 from the field and 0 for 7 from 3-point range.

The Tigers struggled from long range, making just 1 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc against a Gamecocks team that leads the nation in 3-point defense. But it overcame that hurdle by going 29 for 37 at the charity stripe.

Memphis led South Carolina 33-28 at the half, after 20 minutes characterized by fouls more than baskets. The teams combined for 23 fouls, with 13 called on the Gamecocks and 10 on the Tigers. They combined for just 20 total baskets over that period.