By ECU Sports Information

EL PASO, Texas  – Joe Jackson scored a career-high 24 points as Memphis defeated short-handed East Carolina 76-56 in the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament on Friday.

Charles Carmouche added 19 points and Will Coleman 11 for the fourth-seeded Tigers (24-9), who face No. 3 seed UTEP in the championship game on Saturday.

Darrius Morrow had 25 points and 14 rebounds for No. 8-seeded East Carolina (18-15), which was without Brock Young, the C-USA sixth man of the year. The guard was unable to play due to a knee injury suffered against UAB on Thursday.

Memphis shot 58.6 percent from the field in the first half and 50.9 percent overall. The Tigers made 12 of 15 attempts from the free-throw line.

Jamar Abrams added 12 points for East Carolina.

In the teams’ only regular-season matchup, UTEP defeated Memphis 74-47 in El Paso on Feb. 26.