The Associated Press

Memphis receiver Robert Douglas (34) dives for a pass as Cincinnati's Jamey Murphy (55) pursues. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Cincinnati Bearcats' streak of reaching a bowl game for three straight seasons is over.

The Bearcats couldn't hold a late lead Saturday and fell to Memphis 21-16 at the Liberty Bowl.

The Bearcats fell to 5-6 overall and to 2-5 in Conference USA. UC, which has lost six of its past eight games, must defeat Louisville at Nippert Stadium Friday to avoid its first losing season since 1999.

The Bearcats were clinging to a 16-14 lead when Wesley Smith intercepted a Gino Guidugli pass late in the fourth quarter.

Smith returned it to the UC 9, and the Tigers took the lead on a touchdown run by Darron White with 5:57 remaining.

Then the Tigers defense stopped the Bearcats on the ensuing series that took Cincinnati to the Memphis 30.

Memphis' Darron White (28) and Jason Johnson (71) celebrate after White scored the winning touchdown. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

"We played well on defense, but we've had a suspect kicking game all year," Cincinnati coach Rick Minter said. "We missed opportunities in the kicking game, and the turnovers hurt us late."

It was Memphis' fifth straight victory and marked the first time the Tigers (8-3, 5-2 C-USA) have won eight games in a season since 1973.

Memphis lost its second-leading receiver, Maurice Avery, earlier in the week to a knee injury. Saturday, quarterback Danny Wimprine struggled with his passing. And when leading rusher DeAngelo Williams left with a knee injury in the third quarter, it was up to the Tigers defense to turn the game around in the fourth quarter.

"We had to just come up and be poised," Smith said. "Just wake up and play like we are supposed to."

Guidugli was 18-of-39 passing on the day for 272 yards, the majority to Hannibal Thomas.

Thomas, who entered the game with only seven catches on the season, had 10 receptions for 173 yards.

Cincinnati	7	6	3	0-16
Memphis	7	0	7	7-21

First Quarter

MEM-Kelley 65 pass from D. White (Gostkowski kick), 11:00.

CIN-Thomas 28 pass from Guidugli (Manfredini kick), 5:20.

Second Quarter

CIN-Hagler 76 blocked field goal return (kick fails), 5:22.

Third Quarter

CIN-FG Manfredini 41, 11:43.

MEM-Wimprine 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 6:57.

Fourth Quarter

MEM-D. White 3 run (Gostkowski kick), 5:57.

A-42,884.

	Cin	Mem
First downs	15	18
Rushes-yards	34-29	45-167
Passing	272	145
Comp-Att-Int	18-39-1	9-28-3
Return Yards	127	45
Punts-Avg.	7-32	5-40
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	0-0
Penalties-Yards	7-70	4-30
Time of Possession	30:28	29:32

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Cincinnati, Arnold 17-32, Hall 5-26, Vann 2-8, C. Jones 3-7, Murray 1-(-9), Team 1-(-13), Guidugli 5-(-22). Memphis, Williams 23-136, Parquet 12-31, D. White 3-3, Wimprine 7-(-3).

PASSING-Cincinnati, Guidugli 18-39-1-272. Memphis, Wimprine 8-26-3-80, Roberson 0-1-0-0, D. White 1-1-0-65.

RECEIVING-Cincinnati, Thomas 10-173, Dawley 3-34, Lewis 3-31, Vann 1-18, Arnold 1-16. Memphis, Pratcher 2-18, Kelley 1-65, Parquet 1-36, D. White 1-13, Davis 1-8, Cole 1-8, Garcia 1-2, Williams 1-(-5).